Visit Güell Palace is a Catalan Modernist building designed by Antoni Gaudí as a residence for Eusebi Güell and his family.
Built between 1886 and 1890, the palace is located in the El Ravalin the Barcelona's historic center.
Let's discover it together.
Palais Güell: article summary
A brief history of Palau Güell
Eusebi Güell already owned another property on the site. Las Ramblas when he loaded Antoni Gaudí to design the Güell Palace. In other words, this manor house began as an extension of that first house, and as such, the young architect includes a glass passageway to link the two buildings which can still be visited today on the first floor!
Antoni Gaudí put about four years to complete the Güell Palace. The interior spaces are harmonious, balanced and symmetrical.
But the main legacy of this bourgeois palace was the architectural and decorative solutions devised by the Catalan architect, which served as a rehearsal for his future masterpieces (such as the parc Güellthe Casa Batllóthe Casa Milàthe crypt of Colònia Güelland the Basilica of Sagrada Familia).
What are the opening hours?
Güell Palace opens :
- Tuesday to Sunday 10 am to 5:30 pm (October 1 to March 31)
- 10 am to 8 pm (April 1 to September 30)
Ticketing closes at 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m..
How much does a ticket cost?
Admission costs :
- 12 € for adults
- 9 € for students aged 18 and over
- 5 € for children and young people aged 10 to 17
What to see at Palacio Güell
There's a lot to see at Barcelona's Palau Güell. As the site is huge, I'm going to tell you about the main things to see during your visit.
The main façade
The main façade of the Palacio Güell is marked by the two parabolic arches in the center, which house the large wrought-iron doors.
In fact, wrought iron is the decorative material that stands out most here. Apart from that, the structure has been built almost exclusively from Massís del Garraf limestone.
Un détail très curieux sur la façade principale du palais Güell est le blason de la Catalogne
, installé entre les portes d’entrée. Également en fer forgé, il est couronné d’un phénix, symbole de la Renaixença (mouvement littéraire et culturel catalan du XIXᵉ siècle).Palais Güell: the stables and courtyard
The basement of the Palazzo Güell was used as a stable, and access was via two different ramps: a gently sloping spiral ramp, through which the horses ascended and descended; and a steeper spiral ramp used by the palace's servants.
However, the most striking feature of this space is the thick brick pillars with mushroom-shaped capitals, which bear a large part of the building's weight. The basement also features a small courtyard, which provides ventilation and light for the stable and was used to collect rainwater.
The antechamber
The first room on the first floor of Palazzo Güell is, of course, the antechamber. And, although the entrance isn't exactly the most important room in a house, Antoni Gaudí has not neglected its decoration, incorporating a variety of materials (marble, iron, glass, brass, wood, etc.)!
Palais Güell: the central hall
At over 80 m² and 17 metres high, the central hall is the "heart" of the Güell Palace. In the days when the mansion was inhabited by the Güell family, this great hall hosted all kinds of social and cultural events, which is why Antoni Gaudí equipped it with a chapel and an organ console.
The parabolic dome that crowns the central hall is one of the Catalan architect's most brilliant ideas. Supported by four parabolic arches, the dome is covered with hexagonal alabaster pieces, which let in natural light. to simulate a starry sky!
South terrace and rear facade
The south-facing terrace is located at the rear of Palazzo Güell. It is accessible from the dining room, billiard room and corridor.
The views you have of this space are the three streets: Carrer de Lancaster, Carrer Nou and Las Ramblas.
Despite this, the most relevant element of this patio is the wrought-iron bay window.
The rear façade is completed by a balcony on the upper floor, linking Eusebi Güell's bedroom with that of Isabel López .
A visit to Barcelona's Palau Güell is an experience in itself. You'll discover Gaudi's magnificent work and have a great time in this place steeped in history.
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