The fountains of Montjuïc

“A beautiful place, the Montjuïc Park / in the middle, a beautiful fountain / from where hope springs / a joyful song”. Roughly translated, this is a fragment of the ‘sardana’ (a circular Catalan dance that is sometimes sung) that lends its name to the exhibition Baixant de la Font del Gat. Les fonts populars de Montjuïc (Coming down from the Font del Gat. The fountains of Montjuïc).

During the second half of the 19th, and until well into the 20th century, Montjuïc fountains such as the Font del Geperut, Font d’en Conna, Font d’en Pessetes and Font de la Guatlla, among many others, were meeting points for the middle and working classes of the area, who gathered at the fountains on Sundays and holidays. Families, couples and groups of friends made the best of the natural surroundings to relax and escape from the bustle of the city.

The exhibition currently on display in the Castell de Montjuïc is a sensory journey through the history of these fountains and includes photographs by photographers such as Frederic Ballell, Carlos Perez de Rozas and Josep Brangulí, pioneers and instigators of photojournalism in the city during the first quarter of the 20th century, as well as reproductions of sketches and lithographs by Lola Anglada and Pau Febrés Yll.

Baixant de la Font del Gat. Les fonts populars de Montjuïc both accompanies and complements the other exhibition currently on display in the castle, Montjuïc 1915, an initial view. Testimonies of a Transformation, and can be seen up until the 30th of November. Entrance to the exhibition is included in the price of entry to the castle, 5 euros. For more information, please consult the castle website.