It would be impossible to describe this park without mentioning the art it contains. The main entrance on C/ Almogàvers is flanked by two very tall, white, ceramic walls, which are bounded by the long, very gentle and grassy slopes found on both sides. They provide an observation point for seeing the whole park in perspective.
Small, wooden-beam paths make it easier for visitors to walk up. Ceramics re-appear in two further guises, two sculptures that determine the layout of the park and are its undisputed main attractions. One of these, close to the old railway station building, is a large, blue ceramic facade that extends over the grass, entitled Cel caigut (Fallen Sky). The other, full of lime trees and entitled Espiral arbrada (Tree-lined Spiral), is further on, by the bridge on C/ Sardenya where the first part of the park ends. It is worth going up there to see the sculptures.
History
The old Estació del Nord factory was built in 1861 and was the arrival point for trains on the Lleida line. It stopped functioning as a railway station in 1872 and is currently the site not just of the park but also Barcelona’s central bus station and the city’s largest municipal sports centre.
Biodiversity
The sculptures are flanked by stone pines (Pinus pinea) and very high poplars (Populus nigra italica). There are a lot of large white poplars (Populus alba Nivea and Populus alba pyramidalis) with beautiful, silvery leaves, and grey poplars (Populus x canadensis and Populus x canadensis pyramidalis) too. One particular grey poplar, remarkable for its hundred years and magnificent appearance, is listed in the Barcelona Trees of Local Interest Catalogue. Packing the Espiral arbrada there is a large and noteworthy plantation of lime trees (Tilia tormentosa), and
by C/ Nàpols, a bosquet full of holm oaks (Quercus ilex), Monterey cypresses (Cupressus macrocarpa) and several white poplars. The large grass parterres beyond C/ Sardenya share the limelight with tamarisks (Tamarix gallica), strawberry trees (Arbutus unedo), cheesewood trees (Pittosporum tobira), laurustinuses (Viburnum tinus) and broom (Spartium junceum), as well as hackberry trees (Celtis australis) around the children’s play area, where there are small groups of pagoda trees (Sophora japonica), acacias (Robinia pseudoacacia) and swamp wattles (Acacia retinodes).
Art and Architecture
The Estació del Nord park is regarded as Barcelona’s only example of land art, a trend that arose towards the end of the 1960s in the United States and Europe, and which aimed to take artistic works out to and provide support for natural spaces. Here it is represented by ceramics on the landscape, with two sculptures by Beverly Pepper: Cel caigut and Espiral arbrada.
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- Phone number
- Information: 010
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- Accessibility
- Accessible for people with physical disabilities
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- Titularity
- Public center
- Address:
- Carrer de Nàpols, 70
- Districte:
- Eixample
- Neighborhood:
- el Fort Pienc
- City:
- Barcelona
Timetable
| Periode | Dies | Hores | |
|---|---|---|---|
Horari d'hivern De l'1 novembre al 31 març |
Cada dia | de 08.00 h a 19.00 h | |
Horari d'estiu de l'1 d'abril al 31 d'octubre |
de 08.00 h a 21.00 h |
aproximada, en funció de
l'horari solar (tanquen
quan es fa fosc, al capvespre)
Esdeveniments
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Celebració de l'Any Nou Xinès 2025
25/01/2025