Press Kit

PARK GÜELL’S HISTORY AND MANAGEMENT

Park Güell is one of the most representative examples of Antoni Gaudí’s architecture as well as an iconic heritage space in Barcelona. The Catalan architect, commissioned by the industrialist Eusebi Güell in 1900, attempted to recreate England’s residential parks in his project in order to house the city’s well-to-do families.

The project failed and the industrialist’s heirs agreed to sell the Park to Barcelona City Council, which opened it as a public park in 1926.

The Park has been a meeting point ever since, playing host to every type of ceremony and event, from cultural competitions to communal lunches, and noted above all for the sardana ring-dance gatherings. In addition, today’s Austria Gardens became a municipal incubator and the Güell family’s house a state school, named after the educator Baldiri Reixac and still in use to this day.

UNESCO declared it a Cultural Heritage of Humanity site in 1984, giving it the impetus for achieving the worldwide significance it enjoys today. It is likewise a Cultural Asset of National Interest, a status awarded by the Government of Catalonia (Generalitat) in 1993. Then in October 2013, Barcelona City Council implemented its Park Güell Monument Area regulations, giving priority to preserving this 12-hectare space and protecting it from mass tourism.
 

The purpose is to protect, study and disseminate Gaudí's work for humanity as a whole, as required by UNESCO, while providing a quality visit experience. It is also to enable the Park to remain an urban park, a space for the community and even a space for individual and collective memories. 

Park Güell’s new management model came into force on 1 July 2020, with the aim of facilitating the city’s re-connection with the park. Hence the regulated visitor capacity for its entire surface area, to avoid overcrowding, improve visitor experiences and ensure compliance with the park’s safety, protection and preservation measures.

The challenge, therefore, lies in finding a balance between tourist activities and social uses, above all so that residents from the Park's surrounding neighbourhoods can enjoy it in peace and quiet. Consequently, local residents will be given free access throughout the year and all proceeds raised by the regulation will be reinvested in the Park under various improvement and renovation projects for green spaces, viewing points, paths, play areas and so on.

PARK GÜELL: HARMONY WITH LOCAL RESIDENTS

Park Güell’s challenge is to strike a balance between tourist activities and social uses, above all so that residents from the Park's surrounding neighbourhoods can enjoy it in peace and quiet. Two time slots have been adapted for that very purpose, one called “Bon dia Barcelona” and the other “Bon vespre Barcelona” during which local residents and anyone who is registered with Gaudir Més can enjoy free, unrestricted access when the Park is open but CLOSED to tourists.

The aim is to facilitate Barcelona’s re-connection with Park Güell.

PARK GÜELL DATA FOR 2021

Most significant:

• Total annual number of visitors with paid ticket:   1.506.565 pax
• Total annual number of visitors with free pass (local residents):   615.234 pax
• Total number of school visits:  18.312 pax

Visitor profile:

By far the largest profile is that of someone between the ages of 25 and 34, visiting with their partner or in a family group.

Leisure activities and attendees:

Besides facilitating city residents’ reconnection with Park Güell, recreational activities are organised in the Park’s grounds. Last year closed with the Park having hosted a 19 activities in various categories, with an estimated total of 2,000 attendees.