Nobody bought
The plan was a gated estate of luxury houses with views of the sea. It was far from the city and buyers never came: only two houses were built, and Gaudí himself lived in one of them.
Urban Tales › Barcelona › Park Güell
Park Güell: a failed housing estate
Eusebi Güell asked Gaudí for an exclusive garden suburb on a hill above Barcelona. Only two houses were ever built, and in 1926 the city opened it as a public park.
Built1900–1914
Commissioned byEusebi Güell
Public park since1926
UNESCOsince 1984
Hear the Park Güell story, in the app's voice
A short preview. The full story plays on its own when you walk up to it with Urban Tales.
Three stories most visitors miss
1
2
The dragon
The mosaic salamander on the entrance stairs, known as el drac, is the park's mascot. Behind it, the Hypostyle Room's columns were meant to hold up a market for the residents.
3
The longest bench
The wavy bench around the main terrace is covered in broken tiles, a technique called trencadís, made largely by Gaudí's collaborator Josep Maria Jujol.
TipThe Monumental Zone with the dragon and the bench needs a timed ticket, so book ahead; the rest of the park is free to walk. Go early for the light and the quiet. With Urban Tales running, the park's story plays as you walk in.
Nearby landmarks
Park Güell: common questions
Why was Park Güell built?
As a luxury housing estate. Eusebi Güell commissioned Gaudí in 1900, but only two houses were built and the city turned it into a public park in 1926.
Did Gaudí live in Park Güell?
Yes, in one of the two houses, from 1906. It's now the Gaudí House Museum.
Do you need a ticket for Park Güell?
For the Monumental Zone (the dragon, the bench and the Hypostyle Room), yes, with timed entry. Check the official site.