The Sports Facilities at Montjuïc in Barcelona

Montjuïc in Barcelona isn't just known for its art museum or cable cars. It's also well-known for its abundant sports facilities.

The capital of Catalonia simply breathes sport wherever you go. Whether you’re by the beach or in the mountains, it’s possible to not just do sports but to also enjoy the different stadiums and venues. However, today, we’ll look at the different sports facilities at Montjuïc, which was the center of the 1992 Olympic Games.

The sports facilities at Montjuïc

It’s one of the most popular tourist sights in Barcelona, with its many museums, cable cars, exercise trails, and even a botanical garden.

The Montjuïc, ‘Mount of the Jews’ in medieval Catalan, has had several uses throughout history. But the most significant was doubtlessly when Barcelona hosted the 1992 Olympic Games.

As a result of the games, there are many different sporting installations at Montjuïc. Perfect for practicing and watching sport or learning about Olympic history.

Montjuïc’s main sports facilities

On the most well-known mountain in Barcelona, you’ll find sport everywhere. So, here are some of the sports facilities that you can find here:

1. Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium

Originally built in 1929, it was inaugurated by King Alfonso XIII and rebuilt almost entirely in the eighties to host the ’92 Olympic Games. With capacity for more than 60,000 spectators, the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium hosted the opening and closing ceremonies and the track and field events.

Since it was a UEFA category four stadium, it became the home of Real Club Deportivo Espanyol after the games from 1997 to 2009. The Spanish soccer team has since used it on several occasions for friendly matches, and the stadium has also hosted concerts by huge artists.

2. Palau Sant Jordi: sports facilities at Montjuïc

This is one of the most outstanding sports venues in Montjuïc and has been open since 1990. It hosts all manner of musical and artistic performances but also has a capacity for 17,000 spectators for sporting events.

The Palau Sant Jordi was the main indoor arena during Barcelona ’92 ​​and hosted the artistic gymnastics, handball, and volleyball events. However, it’s currently used for basketball.

3. Olympic Ring: sports facilities at Montjuïc

This isn’t a single venue for a set of different sports facilities created for the Olympic Games. The ring is located on a three-tiered concourse between the gardens and a beautiful lake.

Also, in the ring area (which you can see in the photo at the top of the article), you’ll find the famous Montjuïc Communications Tower, which is 120 meters high and an iconic structure in Montjuïc.

4. Montjuic municipal swimming pool

This sports facility is located in the eastern area of ​​the Olympic Ring and consists of two outdoor pools. It offers beautiful views of Barcelona, ​​with the Sagrada Familia in the background. The pool opened in 1929 and underwent renovation in 1990. It then hosted jumping and water polo competitions during the games.

5. Olympic Museum

If you’re a fan of the Olympic Games, you can’t miss out on a trip to this museum. Inside, you’ll be able to find out more about each discipline and even become an athlete, at least interactively for a while.

There’s also a large room dedicated to the Barcelona ’92 games, with the mascots, the props used in the opening ceremony, and even the Olympic torch.

6. La Foixarda Municipal Rugby Pitch

Another sports facility in Montjuic that’s worth visiting. This rugby pitch regularly hosts games involving the Gótics RC and Barcelona Universitari Club. It sometimes also hosts games involving the Spanish and Catalan rugby teams.

La Foixarda municipal pitch was inaugurated in 1921 with a football match between FC Barcelona and Sparta Prague. Later, it hosted the Mediterranean Games in 1955 and several finals of the Rugby Copa del Rey.

We can’t go into detail about every single sporting venue, sadly, but here is a quick list of some of the other sports facilities in Montjuic: Joan Serrahima Municipal Stadium, Piscines Bernat Picornell, Carlos Pérez de Rozas Municipal Baseball Field, and Pau Negre Municipal Sports Complex.