We all probably know and have visited Grand Central Station in New York. And if not, we are pretty sure you have seen it through movies like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Superman, North by Northwest or Cotton Club. What if we say that there is a beautiful train station in Barcelona? If you are a train lover, add to your non touristy places in Barcelona this little known spot.
A train station with History
Estació de França is located in the Ciutat Vella district, and it was built in 1929 for the Exposición Universal. In 1926, the engineer Andreu Muntaner started the construction and it turned to be one of the first connections Barcelona-Paris. It is commonly compared to the Orsay Station in Paris. Estació de França is a must see architecture in Barcelona, specially if you are a train lover.
The lobby of the station, which is another of the beautiful spots, was designed by the architects Ramon Duran Reinals and Pelagi Martínez Aparicio following the “noucentista” artistic movement. Marble and bronze are the main materials from which this place gets its majesty.
After the Civil War (1936-1939) the station, as well as the lobby, had to be rehabilitated due to the damaged caused on its structure. Felip Neri square is another place to see in Barcelona which also suffered the consequences of the civil war, and are still visibles nowadays on its walls.
Time travel
If you are walking through the crowded Ciutadella streets and suddenly you encounter this station, don’t miss the chance to get in and have a look at this hidden spot. Out of the crowd, you will probably feel like you are traveling back in time to some decades ago. That feeling of losing track of time. It is not definitely la Sagrada Familia, but sometimes a place doesn’t have to be majestic to feel it special somehow. There are some non touristy places in Barcelona, like this one, which are also worth visiting.
Must see architecture in Barcelona: an exponent of the iron architecture
Estació de França was one of the featured constructions included in the iron architecture movement. It has a double iron canopy with stained glass that gets to produce a beautiful light effect in the space. This station is a must see architecture in Barcelona, beyond beautiful Gaudí’s iconic buildings.
The owls, its main attraction
One of the things that makes this place one of those places to visit in Barcelona is, in fact, an animal. Specifically, an owl! Pay attention when you enter the lobby of the station: you will see them. And probably you are wondering why owls where the animals chosen… Well, it has an explanation: these figures help to scare the pigeons. They are strategically placed in the station, so here is the game: try to spot them once you are there ;)
Estació de França today
This Barcelona attraction holds great cultural events and markets: Saló del Còmic, concerts, exhibitions and even fairs and markets, like the popular second-hand market Lost & Found. A mix of History, culture and leisure is what makes Estació de França one of those non touristy places in Barcelona worth a visit.
Where and how to arrive
If you want to visit, or just knowing where it is located just in case you hang out by the area, here we share the details on how to arrive to this beautiful train station in Barcelona:
Where:
Avinguda Marquès de l’Argentera, s/n
How to arrive:
- Subway L4, Barceloneta stop
- Bus: 14, 17, 39, 45, 51, 64, D20 and H16.
- Estació de França is open from 5am to 12pm.
Nowadays, Estació de França is the second biggest station in Barcelona, after Barcelona-Sants station. But in terms of art and historical heritage, it is definitely the first one. Its majestic infrastructure is what makes this beautiful train station in Barcelona a must-see spot.
And if you want to keep exploring other places to visit in Barcelona, we recommend you to keep reading to discover another beautiful spot in the city called “the kiss”.