Palau GüellMy rating: 4 stars+ This lesser-known Gaudí house in the El Raval district has a medieval kind of architecture – a rare thing in a work of Gaudí. On the rooftop terrace, however, his style becomes more obvious again. The audio guide is included in the price of admission.
- There are some nice architectural details here, but most of the original furniture has been replaced.
Last updated: 27 Feb 2020 | Celine Mülich
The details at a glance
Opening hours: April – October: Tuesday – Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. November – March: Tuesday – Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Closed on Monday
Price of admission: 12 Euro reduced price 9 Euro (young peoples in the age of 16 - 25, senior citizens over the age of 65, groups with reservation) 5 Euro (children in the age of 10 - 17) free admission for children under the age of 10
Audio guide: Included to the admission fee (Audio guide options: normal, express, for children) Tours: Private tours: (0034) 934 725- 775 or- 771
How to get there: L3 (green line): Liceu or Drassanes
And what's there to see?
The palace of Eusebi Güell was created by Antoni Gaudí from 1886 until 1890. It resembles the house of a medieval ruling family much more than a modernist building! Gaudí wanted to reflect the measured, majestic personality of Eusebi Güell.
First off, you’ll notice the large gates at the main façade. When visitors left in their horse-drawn carriages, they should not have to leave the palace and immediately be standing in the street – instead, the carriages could enter the building, right beside the grand stairs. There, the visitors could climb aboard, making the wait much more befitting of their status.
It’s not until you see the roof where the building’s “Gaudí”ness becomes evident: note the colorful chimneys with their ornate mosaics.
Photogallery of the Palau Güell
A history of the Palau Güell
Eusebi Güell, an aristocrat who lived from 1846 to 1918, became successful mainly due to the industrialization of textile manufacturing and through real estate. He discovered Gaudí in 1878, and gave him several jobs over the years: the pavilions on the Güell country estate from 1884 to 1887, this city house in 1886, and the Colònia Güell in 1898. And, of course, let’s not forget the Park Güell, which Gaudí developed from 1900 until 1914!
Official website of the Palau Güell (Catalan):palauguell.cat Text and image rights: Céline Mülich, 2014-2020 with Permission of Palau Güell and the Diputación de Barcelona.