Want to discover Barcelona? Let us explain the advantages of cycling.

*Discover the Parc de la Ciutadella by bike.*

Born Bike Tours Barcelona is a Catalan cultural tours company created in 2009 with a clear objective: to take advantage of our roots and origins, to combine our knowledge of Barcelona’s history and our passion for the world of cycling and culture.

The human factor is one of our values and we consider it our responsibility to achieve our collective goals with empathy and fidelity.

With 240 kilometres of cycle path, visiting Barcelona by bike allows you to drive to unusual places, emblematic or not yet known, to discover its history or its milestones.

Through these authentic guided tours. Born Bike Tours Barcelona offers you a historical, cultural, economic and sociological point of view.

Why choose cycling as a means of transport ?

Cycling is the fastest means of transport in the city and will allow you to stop regularly without constraints in places where cars do not pass in order to admire the landscape.

In addition, visiting the city by bike will improve your physical and mental health while reducing the stress that road traffic could generate.

These days, we must also take into account the economic factor.

Indeed, a bike does not need fuel to move forward, just the strength of your legs. Thus, you will reduce your carbon footprint, and the planet will thank you!

*A group taking advantage of a sunny day to cycle the Montjuïc.*

The bike is ideal for families !

If you have children, this is the opportunity to offer them a holiday around a pleasant activity that will be perfect to create unforgettable memories.

22-23 October: The Barcelona Architecture Festival reopens its doors!

The city of Barcelona opens the 14th edition of the ***“48h Open Doors” architecture festival*** from 22 to 23 October 2022.

This year’s festival highlights all the disciplines and professionals that make Barcelona’s architecture a collaborative and global work.
The aim is to bring designers, craftsmen, users and architects out of the shadows to share their collaborative design secrets and to raise awareness about these professions that build Barcelona’s environment.

Planning :

Visits to the most emblematic places in Barcelona will take place in all areas of the city.
For example, in the Centre you can visit

THE “APARTAMENT PICASSO”.

This is a complete remodelling of a small, very isolated house into an open flat, where the spaces interact and nothing is designed at random

“NNWALLERY: VALÈNCIA-ROGENT WALL”

On the Carrer de València at the corner of Rogent street, you can find the work of DXTR (Dennis Schuster, Berlin), an internationally renowned urban style artist who combines applications on city walls with advertising campaigns for well-known brands. It will be an interactive mural of over 50 metres in length and 2.5 metres in height.

You can also search for all other exhibitions on the festival website at

https://www.48hopenhousebarcelona.org/els-edificis/

Enjoy your immersion in Barcelona’s architecture!

Las fiestas de Gràcia : a fantastic journey through one of Barcelona’s typical neighbourhoods

Every year for more than 200 years, the Gracia Fiestas are back from the 15th to the 21st of August to take young and old on a journey through the streets of this emblematic district of Barcelona.

A little bit of history :

The history of Gracia’s fiestas dates to the 19th century when the Vila de Gràcia became a neighbourhood of small craftsmen, tradesmen and workers, and then, following its annexation to the city of Barcelona, fiestas began to be organised to celebrate the religious feast of the Assumption of Mary on 15 August. Although these popular festivals had a strong religious character, they now only have a festive and playful dimension.

And now ?

It is a popular festival that lasts for a week and includes many activities such as concerts, workshops, shows and, most famously, a traditional decoration competition, the guarnits, of the different streets of the district that compete for the first prize. You can see the famous processions of giants and cabezudos (big heads) or correfocs (running lights).

In addition to the street decorations, you will be able to dance, enjoy live music and gastronomy in the neighbourhood squares until 2am on August 21st.

Note: the eco-responsible dimension of the fiestas de Gracia. Indeed, the guarnits give a second life to a lot of waste of the inhabitants of the district. For example, last year the Calle Progrés used no less than 12,000 egg boxes to carry out its project!

So don’t hesitate and come and discover las fiestas de Gracia !

Sports competitions in Barcelona in 2022

In Barcelona, sport is very present. Indeed, the people of Barcelona are sporty and have competition in their blood! That’s why we are going to present you the main sports competitions taking place in Barcelona in 2022.

TRAM BARCELONA OPEN 2022

📆 Dates : From 18.05.2022 to 22.05.2022

📍Place: Real Club de Polo de Barcelona – Av. Doctor Marañón, 17-31, 08028 Barcelona

In order to show that sport is accessible to all and thus normalize disability sport, one of the most important events will be present in Barcelona for the 5th edition. This sports competition is an international tennis tournament for people in wheelchairs. The Tram Barcelona Open highlights the surpassing of oneself, the efforts and also the perseverance in spite of some differences. The tournament is hosted by the Real Club de Polo de Barcelona.

Poster of the Tram Barcelona Open — ©JohanCruyffInstitute

E-DREAMS: MITJA MARATÓ OF BARCELONA

📆 Dates: 03.04.2022

This is the eDream half marathon of Barcelona. It takes place in the center of Barcelona and passes through the most famous avenues of Barcelona. This sporting event brings together runners from all over the world, from different countries, of different levels, to spend a great time in the beautiful city of Barcelona.

Photo of the finish of the E-Dreams Marathon of Barcelona — ©20minutos

45th INDOOR TRIAL OF BARCELONA

📆 Dates: 10.04.2022 – 17h00

📍 Place: Passeig Olímpic, 5-7, 08038 Barcelona

The Trial Indoor Barcelona is the best Indoor Trial for men and women. This event takes place once again at the Palau de Sant Jordi in Barcelona for a round of the FIM X-Trial World Championship 2022.

On the program: Obstacles, jumps, and acrobatics. The best riders in the world will compete to offer a show as beautiful as impressive.

Photo of the X-Trial of Barcelona — ©TrialIndoorBarcelona.com

ZURICH MARATON OF BARCELONA

📆 Dates : 08.05.2022

It is the 44th edition of this marathon which is very famous in the European continent. It is a great civic celebration in which runners from all over the world come together. Indeed, the circuit of more than 42 kilometers is one of the most spectacular in the world!

Photo of the start of the Zurich Marathon in Barcelona — ©World’sMarathon

FORMULA 1 FIRST GRAND PRIZE OF SPAIN

📆 Dates: 20.05.2022 to 22.05.2022

📍 Place: Circuit of Barcelona, Catalonia, Mas “La Moreneta”, 08160 Montmeló

The Formula 1 invites itself to the circuit of Barcelona in the year 2022. It is one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year in Barcelona. It is the fifth race of the F1 championship season.

Poster of the Formula 1 of the circuit of Barcelona — ©CircuitdeBarcelona

It’s up to you, the enthusiasts, to come and support your favorite athletes!

The festival of Sant Jordi in Barcelona

The festival of Sant Jordi, known as the Diada of Sant Jordi, is a very famous festival in Barcelona and throughout Catalonia! It is celebrated on 23 April 2022, the day on which the patron saint died in 303. He is considered the patron saint of many places such as Bulgaria, England and Portugal. In Spain, he is the patron saint of Catalonia and also of Aragon.

Sant Jordi slaying the dragon — ©RosasSantJordi

Traditions of Sant Jordi’s Day

It should be noted that this day is also considered to be the day of lovers. Therefore, there is a tradition of giving a rose and a book. At first, the rose was intended for women and the book for men. But many men give a book as well as a rose. Normally, the rose should be red but this varies and you can even find multi-coloured roses!

Giving a rose is a distant tradition from the Middle Ages, while giving a book is a much more recent one: this initiative was started by Vincent Clavel, a writer and publisher from Valencia who lived in Barcelona. Since 1930, this day is also the International Book Day.

Lady reading a book during Saint George's Day in a street decorated with red roses — ©Turisme de Barcelona

But why a rose?

According to legend, a dragon terrified the village of Montblanc. The inhabitants started to feed the dragon with their own animals so that it would not harm the inhabitants. As the animals in the village were not infinite, once there were only the villagers left to devour, they had the idea of organising a periodic draw. This draw involved all the villagers as well as the king and princess. Whoever was drawn would be devoured by the dragon.

Then came the day when the princess was drawn. As she was about to be eaten by the dragon, a knight on horseback fought with the dragon. After a long battle, the knight defeated the dragon with his lance. Then the spear pierced the dragon, its blood gushed out and from it a rose bush sprang up from which a rose sprouted. The knight offered this rose to the princess.

casa batlo decorated of roses for the Sant Jordi — ©Paseo de Gracía

How is it celebrated?

It has become a tradition for writers to sign their books on International Book Day. That’s why you will find stands with writers and their books for you to sign at several places.

Secondly, the promotion of books is also in the spotlight. For this reason you will find public readings organised. For children, there are puppet shows that tell the story of the evil dragon!

Are you convinced? Don’t hesitate to come and see the Sant Jordi Festival in Barcelona and rent bikes at the same time!

The festivals of March in Barcelona in 2022

In this month of March 2022, you will not be bored! You’re going to get an earful!

Indeed, many festivals are planned and organized this month and there is something for everyone. Jazz, classical music, cinema, humor and so on.

Barcelona Obertura Spring Festival & Obertura City +

The Barcelona Obertura Spring Festival is a classical music festival that highlights great international performers. The festival is in collaboration with the Gran Teatre del Liceu, the Palau de la Música Catalana and the Auditorium. The Barcelona Obertura Spring Festival also takes place in major emblematic places of Barcelona such as the Casa Batlló, the Museum of Music, the National Museum of Art of Catalonia, the Joan Miró Foundation and others.

For this year 2022, the festival wants to highlight women composers who have been forgotten only because they were women.

Festival poster of Barcelona Obertura Spring Festival — ©Barcelonaturisme

41th International Jazz Festival of Terrassa

In this year 2022, the 41st edition of the International Jazz Festival takes place in the city of Terrassa and the Vallès Occidental region.

In fact, several concerts and artists will perform in the squares, courtyards, terraces, or parks of the city and on the stage of the famous Nova Jazz Cava. The festival will organize various activities, competitions, film screenings, workshops, or swing sessions!

It’s a great way to discover Jazz and you won’t get bored!

Festival poster Jazz Terrassa — ©Distritojazz

In Risus Festival

This year in Barcelona you can enjoy one of the most entertaining festivals, the In Risus Festival. Indeed, you can enjoy great comedians and masters of monologue who will perform on the stages of several theaters and halls in Barcelona.

Artists such as Berto Romero, Ana Mogarde, Charo López, or David Fernández will be present on stage.

Laughter is at the center of the festival for our greatest pleasure! And yes, the month of March rhymes with farce and it is not for nothing!

Festival poster In Risus 2022 — ©mpcmanagement

XXIV Mecalpro Festival

The Mecalpro Festival is an international festival that aims to present more than 5000 short films by international directors in Barcelona. Its objective is to promote new talents and thus to bring together creators and distributors.

It consists of audiovisual screenings divided into 4 sections, other diverse activities are also organized including themes, genres, authors and different eras.

Festival poster XXIV Mecalpro — ©Barcelonaturisme

This month of March promises to be full of discoveries !

Don’t miss the Barcelona rally !

The Barcelona Rally returns in 2022 for its 64th edition. It will take place on 19 and 20 March 2022. The participating cars and motorbikes come from various national locations and will run from Barcelona to Sitges. The only condition to participate is their production date! Up to 1928 for the cars and 1938 for the motorbikes. Some of them will be a hundred years old!

Did you know that? The rally is considered as an Event of National Tourist Interest!

2022 poster:

This year’s poster pays tribute to the French brand Amilcar, which produced 3 or 4-wheeled vehicles weighing up to 350 kg.

Old cars at the Barcelona rally — ©BlogStaySitges

Waiting for the start of the Barcelona – Sitges rally…

From 7 to 19 March, to keep you waiting, you will be able to see many vintage cars on display, open to the public!

The rally program

On the program on Saturday 19 March :

9:30 am: Cultural Gymkhana. 20 cars (Porsches) will participate in this gymkhana which will start in front of the ME Terramar Hotel in Sitges. The route ends at 14:00. The cars will then be on display at the Fragata until mid-afternoon.

10:00 – 17:00: Inspection and control of the vehicles and their display at Avenida Diagonal. For an atmosphere in keeping with the era of the cars, a music group will play jazz from the 1920s which will be danced by members of the BCNswing association.

On the programme for 20 March :

Arrival of the participants at the plaza de Sant Jaume at 8:30 am sharp!

The drivers and passengers of the cars will be dressed in the same way as they were when their car/bike was designed, often in collaboration with Menkes (a specialist in the craft of clothing and shoes).

The start will be at 10:30! The route is as follows :

Barcelona (Pl. Sant Jaume – Ferran – Rambles – Pl. Catalunya – Ronda Universitat – Ronda Sant Antoni – Sepúlveda – Paral-lel – Pl. Espanya – Gran Via – Badal – Constitució), to L’Hospitalet de Llobregat (Santa Eulàlia – Enric Prat de la Riba – Barcelona), Cornellà de Llobregat (Carretera de L’Hospitalet – Av. de la Fama – Tirso de Molina – Av. Baix Llobregat – Connection with the C-245), Sant Boi de Llobregat, Viladecans, Gavà, Castelldefels, connection with the C-246, Costas del Garraf and arrival at the port of Sitges-Aiguadolç around 12:30.

Meanwhile, around midday, a music and dance show will begin with the group Apocadixie Cotton Pickers accompanied by dancers from Swing Garraf. The show lasts until the arrival of the Ral Oleo caravan.

They depart again at 13:30 pm :

This time from the port of Sitges to the Fragata, the cars will be on display until 17:00 once they arrive at the Fragata.

The itinerary of the route is as follows: Av. Puerto de Aiguadolç – Emerencià Roig and Raventós – Av. Balmins – Puerto Alegre – Rafael Llopart – Jesús – Cap de la Vila – Parellades – Marqués de Montroig – Plaça de l’Industria – 1 de Mayo – Pº de la Ribera – Balsa Redonda – San Antonio – Avda Sofía and Paseo de la Ribera to the Fragata.

Then, the passions, the amateurs or the curious one awaits you numerous! 🏁

Street art, a modern art

Very common in Barcelona, street art is still growing. “Street art” means Urban Art, it is a contemporary artistic movement that appeared at the end of the XXth Century. It is present in the streets, on the walls, in public places. It comes in different forms: graffiti, poster creation, stencil graffiti, pastel and video projection.

If you want to discover street art, Barcelona is for you! In this article we present you the 5 graffiti not to be missed, but you should know that there are some on almost every street corner !

The Carboneria of Sant Antoni : a place full of history

The old abandoned coal factory is now transformed into a squat. It is one of the spaces where we find the most street art. Long threatened with demolition, the coal factory is now one of the most emblematic places of street art. Indeed, the *okupas have made a fresco on the facade of the charcoal house, making it of historical and artistic interest and avoiding its demolition.

*People who occupy and take possession of unoccupied places to live in.

📍 Address : Carrer del Comte d’urgell 30 08011, Barcelona

Hot air balloon represented on the facade of the coal factory — ©lavanguardia

The face of Rosalia : the Barcelona pop star

Originally from Barcelona, Rosalia has been known worldwide since 2018 thanks to her songs and duets with international stars. Supported by the citizens of her hometown, the Catalan singer has been represented on the walls of the city by the famous artist Uriginal, in the district of Sants to immortalize the face of the new voice of flamenco!

📍 Adress : 32 calle Creu Coberta, 08014 Barcelona

Portrait of the singer Rosalia on the walls of Barcelona — ©pinterest

El Pez : an explosion of colors

Renowned worldwide, the Barcelona artist is one of the greatest figures of street art. He has created works all over the world: Barcelona, Lyon, Paris, Oslo, Miami, Bogota, etc. His works are easily recognizable because he always represents smiling fish with bright colors.

📍 Adress : Mia Festival Barcelona

The artist painting the smiling fish in bright colors on a wall in Barcelona — ©beyondstreetart

Pablo Picasso : youth has no age

Portrait of Pablo Picasso by #myhoodisgood with the phrase “youth has no age.” This phrase is dedicated to Picasso’s adolescence and early adulthood in Barcelona, where he met his lifelong friends. It also expresses the youthful spirit of the famous painter who died in 1973.

📍 Adress : Carrer de l’Agricultura, Barcelona

Portrait of Pablo Picasso with the sentence " Youth has no age" — ©Barcelonaviguator

The agora : street art pays tribute

This work is a tribute to Juan Andres Benitez, who died in 2013 during an altercation with the police that degenerated in the Raval neighborhood. Several artists wanted to honor his memory by telling his story through street art. This place is called the Agora and is a space for meetings and exchanges.

📍 Address: Carrer de l’Aurora, Barcelona

An eye with people represented in the ward — ©juontheroad

Don’t hesitate, come and discover the street art in Barcelone !

To see more, here are the artist’s Instagram accounts :

@pezbarcelona

@uriginalbcn

@myhoodisgood

5 events not to be missed in Barcelona in 2022 !

Exhibition of Adolf Mas “the eyes of Barcelona” :

Major Catalan figure of the photographic reportage, he allowed through his pictures to see the evolution of the city of Barcelona during some decades of the XXth Century. Through 200 photographs you will have the opportunity to discover the urban, political, socio-cultural and artistic transformation of Barcelona.

Where? Centro de Fotografía KBr Fundación MAPFRE

When? From 18/02/2022 to 15/05/2022

The Ou Com Balla :

A traditional festival in Barcelona, the Ou Com Balla consists of dancing an egg. The egg is balanced on the jet of water in pools located in cloisters, patios and gardens. On this occasion, you can admire the fountains decorated with flowers and fruits. This Barcelona festival commemorates the institution of the Eucharist.

Where? Different areas of Barcelona

When? 16/06/2022 – 19/06/2022

An egg dancing on a water jet — ©TimeOut

Banksy, the art of protest :

A renowned street art artist, Banksy’s identity is still unknown. However, for the first time, Banksy is coming to Barcelona to exhibit more than 80 exclusive pieces from international private collections. During this exhibition, you will have the opportunity to live a multi-sensory journey thanks to the installation of immersive multimedia present for this event. The allocation of a free audio guide for smartphone will allow you a better understanding of the different Banksy.

Where? Museu del Disseny (Design Museum)

When ? 12/11/2021 – 13/03/2022

Piece of art of Bansky in an exposition — ©MetrópoliAbierta

Barcelona Design Week :

The BDW’22 has been an unmissable event in Barcelona for a few years now, putting art, design, gastronomy and creativity at the center of the project. During one week, design is made accessible to all the city’s inhabitants. Barcelona Design Week also includes Food Design Week, which highlights local food designers and gastronomic experiences. In fact, it is a new edition of the event Disseny en Diagonal that takes place on the main avenue of Barcelona.

Where? Several areas of the city

When? October 2022

Design Furnitures in exposition — ©MXcity

101 Volta Ciclista a Catalunya :

On the occasion of the 101st edition of the Vuelta, the world’s biggest stars will compete in different stages through the 4 provinces of Catalonia. That’s why the route is specially made for high level athletes! Although the vuelta does not pass through Barcelona, it is a major event in Spain!

Where ? In Spain

When ? 21/03/2022 – 27/03/2022

The itinerary of the Vuelta in 2022 — ©ciclismo

Carnival in Barcelona, come and discover the masked city!

Like every year during Carnival the city of Barcelona transforms itself to offer the inhabitants a show of colors, lights, disguises, imagination and creativity.

Carnival is one of the longest celebrations of the year.

This festival is present all over the world but includes important particularities in some countries or cities, which makes it unique. Carnival called Carnestoltes in Catalan is originally a pagan or even Egyptian festival.

Carnestoltes: It is a Latin word that means Carne levar and Carnes tolendas which means period of youth and abstinence from meat. However, during Carnival, some rules are lifted, leaving room for caloric and abundant food, such as the Coca de Llardons or the Butifarra de huevo.

On this occasion, the food is the center of the party, it allows to gather to party.

egg sausage — ©ElGraner – Butifarra de huevo

Preparation based on eggs, flour, greaves and pine nuts — ©CataMayor – Coca de llardons

The dates of this festival vary each year because Carnival is a lunar festival. In fact, it is anchored in the cycle before the Karem and begins 7 weeks after the first moon of the winter solstice !

During this festival many activities are present in the city.

THE PROGRAM OF THE CARNIVAL 2022 IN BARCELONA

DIJOUS GRAS aka Shrove Thursday

Carnival begins with the “Dijous Llarder” or “Dijous gras” (Catalan). During this day there is first of all the arrival (Arribo in Catalan) which is the opening event. Thus, during this event there is the presentation of the King: “El Rei Carnestoltes”, the main character of this festival who is responsible for firing the gun that opens the Carnival in Barcelona.

This event is present in the following districts of Barcelona: Gracia, Horta, Les Corts, San Andreu, Sant Martí, Sarrià.

WHEN : February 24, 2022 at 18:00

WHERE : From Plaça Reial to Boqueria and Palau de la Virreina through the main avenue of La Rambla.

The Carnestoltes King in Barcelona — ©Equinox

TARONJADA :

This event present at Carnival is actually an old tradition including dances, the presence of King Carnestoltes, a camp battle with oranges and also the Sarau de la Taronjada which is a traditional mask dance.

WHEN: Mardi Gras – February 24, 2022 at 18:45

WHERE: Palau de la Virreina (La Rambla)

People in the street of Barcelona for the carnival — ©Flickr

CARNIVAL PROCESSIONS AND PARADES:

At the initiative of the inhabitants, colorful and festive parades are organized in the different districts of Barcelona. In each parade 7 ambassadors are present in addition to the king.

Indeed, Saturday is the day when the atmosphere is at its maximum, activities are present throughout the city so that everyone can enjoy the party.

WHEN: Saturday, February 26, 2022

WHERE: Different areas of Barcelona

Parades in the Barcelona's streets for the carnival — ©CatalunyExperience

BURIAL :

Known as the burial of the sardine, it is the imposition of ashes which symbolizes penitence and repentance for the crazy days of Carnival (apologizing for their excesses during Carnival).

This burial is a religious devotion that serves as preparation for the celebration of Easter. In addition, in some neighborhoods of Barcelona, associations or organizations organize a common meal to meet.

WHEN: March 12, 2022

WHERE: Different areas of Barcelona

NIGHTLIFE DURING THE CARNIVAL:

During this festival much of the atmosphere is present at night. In fact, Barcelona’s discotheques set up themes every night for Carnival.

Night club in Barcelona for the Carnival

For more information : ▷ BARCELONA CARNAVAL 2022 – Dates – Programme événements | irBarcelon

Discover the festival of Saint Eulalie

The festival of Santa Eulalia or “La Laia” is a major festival of the winter season in Barcelona. It takes place on February 11, 12 and 13, 2022 in all the city’s neighborhoods with various activities. Its purpose is to commemorate Saint Eulalia, the co-patroness of Barcelona.

WHO WAS SAINT EULALIE?

She was a Christian and practicing child, born between the end of the 3rd century and the beginning of the 4th century. When she was 13 years old, this young girl faced the repressions directed by the emperor Diocleciano towards the Christian community. She then decided to address the governor of Barcino (modern Barcelona) to contest these acts. Despite her young age and her convictions, the governor did not wish to act. Indeed, he forced Saint Eulalia to renounce her religion. Not wanting to give in, she was sentenced to 13 martyrdoms for her 13 years of life and was finally crucified. She is buried today in the Cathedral of Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia in Barcelona.

MAIN ACTIVITIES OF SAINT EULALIE :

Most of the activities take place in the Plaza de Sant Jaume. This is where the inauguration and the famous castellers of Barcelona take place! Also organized are the “gegants” (giant walk through the city), the “correfocs” (fire show) and the sardanes (traditional dance). Music groups also travel through the city following different routes. The Saint Eulalia is for young and old alike!

CASTELLERS: HUMAN TOUR

As in all the great Catalan festivals, the castellers stand up to offer you an incredible show. Casteller comes from the word castell which means “castle, human tower”.

It is a Catalan tradition that represents an acrobatic prowess recognized by UNESCO as part of the cultural and intangible heritage of humanity. These towers are performed by people of all ages, all types, and all physical conditions. Each of them has an indispensable role. Indeed, the tower is composed of 3 parts:

– The Pinya (=pine cone): it is the base of the tower, it is on it that all the weight rests and it has for role to absorb the possible falls.

– The trunk: is the part that is between the base and the top of the tower whose role is to ensure their connection.

– The pom de dalt (= apple of the top): often ensured by children thanks to their flexibility and their lightness which allows them to climb on top of the tower with ease.

Castellers : Human tours in Barcelona — ©CarlaHenriquez

SARDANES: A MYTHIC DANCE

Considered the national dance of Catalonia, men and women dance together to the rhythm of the music played by the copla, holding hands while forming a circle. Are you ready for a wild dance to the rhythm of the copla?

People dancing the typic dance of Cataluña — ©FemTourism.Chat

CORREFOCS, A SPECTACLE OF FIRE AND DEVILS

Popular in Spain, this street show comes from a cultural activist group (1978) that wanted to create a fire show and a devil dance. Later, the public joined the show, which led to its popularity.

The Correfocs : A fire spectacle in Barcelona — ©Es.Cultureevents

THE GIANTS :

Attend the parade of Eulalia in the streets of Barcelona!

The parade of the giants is a tradition in the Catalan capital during which they move and dance.

These characters of several meters are made of materials such as wicker, wood, worm, aluminum, or fiberglass and are supported by carriers.

The giant of Eulalie parade in Barcelona — ©beteve

Don’t hesitate, come to discover this emblematic festival in Barcelona!

If you want more informations :

https://www.barcelona.cat/santaeulalia/en

The flower of Barcelona

As you walk or cycle through the streets of Barcelona, you will have noticed these little flowers on the cobblestones of the city. This motif has become one of the symbols of Barcelona, but do you know where it really comes from?

Flower of Barcelona Gotic Eixample modernism cobblestone streets

Symbol of Modernism

From the middle of the 19th century, Barcelona experienced a strong economic and urban expansion. The industrial revolution that affected Europe at that time allowed the Catalan capital to enter the modern era. It began to build a new district, the Eixample, which means “the extension” in Catalan. Many modern buildings appeared. The streets, however, were not yet adapted: they looked more like dirt roads, sometimes covered with gravel.

The problem arose when it rained, as the streets turned into streams of mud that flowed down the mountain to the sea. To solve these urban problems, the town council decided to pave the streets. For economic and resistance reasons, concrete slabs measuring 20 x 20 cm were used. This type of paving is called panot in Catalan. Other very old slabs have also been found in the Montjuïc and Gòtic districts.

Five types of tiles were standardised: flower, calavera (four circles with a square in the centre), four concentrated circles, four squares and four squares with four circles inside. In 1916, the company Escofet y Cia won a competition from the town council to pave the town. It lined many streets with the five forms of panots.

Barcelona Flower Barcelona Gotic Eixample modernism cobblestone streets patterns competition

However, two paving patterns have become the majority. These are the four-square tablet and, above all, the Barcelona “flower”. Why these two symbols? Because the tablet is easy to make and practical if one or more tiles need to be replaced, as it can be subdivided. The flower, on the other hand, allows water to be stored in its grooves in case of rain and to walk without risk.

An influence of Josep Puig i Cadafalch?

Legend has it that the flower motif was inspired by one of the city’s most important architects, Josep Puig i Cadafalch.

In fact, a four-petal flower-shaped slab was first used to pave the entrance to the Casa Amatller, a modernist house on the Passeig de Gràcia, built between 1898 and 1900. However, this flower design is not exactly like the famous Barcelona flower. The link between the architect and the Barcelona cobblestones is therefore not proven.

Why should you cycle on holidays?

Is good for your mood !

Our main aim when we go on holiday is to relax and clear our heads. If your goal is to forget about your daily worries for a few days, then cycling is for you. As well as giving you a great deal of oxygen, which is very good for your brain, cycling increases the level of certain neurotransmitters, in particular dopamine and serotonin, which are mood regulators. This triggers a feeling of psychological relaxation, pleasure and euphoria. In short, everything you want during your holidays!

Beach Bike tour guided tour family friends group born bike tours barcelona sport excursion barcelona relaxation discovery sun holiday

The best way to explore a city

Getting around by bike during your holiday means taking more or less known roads. Unlike the metro, bus or car, you are outside all the time. In addition to allowing you to perfect your tan, cycling gives you the opportunity to observe the landscape, monuments and architecture around you more closely. It can also lead you to take lesser-known roads, and thus make discoveries. This is the best way to explore a city!

Allows you to be physically active during your holiday

Cycling during your holiday allows you to maintain your physical health and avoid a sedentary lifestyle! As well as being good for your heart and breathing, it is a non-weight bearing exercise, which is ideal for people with joint pain or injuries. A sport that can be practised at any age, whether you are a great sportsman or not!

Bike tour guided tour family friends group born bike tours barcelona sport excursion barcelona montjuic relaxation discovery holiday

More ecological, cheaper and easier!

Unlike the car, public transport or scooter, the bicycle has a neutral ecological footprint, which is a very important concept today.

Moreover, the car can be a considerable waste of time. Between the traffic jams, the traffic problems, or the ordeal to find a place, it is a real waste of time! In Barcelona, you can find 240 km of cycle lanes, which allow you to move around freely, avoiding traffic problems.

This mode of transport also has the advantage of being inexpensive. At Born Bike Tours Barcelona, you can rent your bike for only 18€ for 24 hours, which is on average double the price of a scooter!

So don’t hesitate any longer, and come and rent a bike for your holidays!

Palao Market Fest

Palao Market Fest is an atypical market/festival, which takes place every first weekend of the month. It’s an atypical and modern concept that the organisers offer us: it’s not just a simple craft market with different food trucks, but a real dynamic festival mixing different arts, so you can live a real experience. During the month of November, the organisers have decided to add a date on the weekend of 20 and 21 December for the “Cool Christmas Fest” to get us into the Christmas spirit.

Far from the traditional markets that can be found in Barcelona such as the Boqueria or Saint Antoni, this market offers you the possibility of making artistic discoveries. Between jewellery, cosmetics, textiles or decoration, you are bound to find something you like. All the exhibitors are real craftsmen, and will make you discover their product with passion.

In addition to the exhibitors, you will also be able to find many Food Trucks of all kinds to eat, or simply to test! All types of cuisine will be present: Vietnamese, vegetarian, burger, pastry … The hardest thing will be to choose!

In order to live a real cultural experience and to make this event more dynamic, street concerts will be proposed. You will find the DJ set MIGUELITO SUPERSTAR and DJ set ZONZO on Saturday, and DJ set IVAN IVANOVICH and DJ set BUSA on Sunday. In addition, there will be 5 STREET MUSIC EXPERIENCES to make sure you have an unforgettable time.

market crafts light crowd tourist activity food stand

The market is therefore present this weekend of 20 and 21 November, but also the first weekend of December, Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 December 2021. Two time slots are available: from 12:00 to 17:00 or from 17:30 to 22:00. These times offer more opportunities to visit, but also two different atmospheres: one during the day and one at night. There is bound to be one that suits you!

The entrance fee is 5€, and it is recommended to book your place in advance on their website (https://palomarketfest.com/es/home), in order to be sure to have a place.

Regarding accessibility, you can get there by metro (SELVA DE MAR (L4)) or by bus (H14, H16/ N.BUS: 12, 29, 30). There is a bike park right at the entrance of the market, so don’t hesitate to rent a bike to get there!

5 reasons to visit Barcelona in November!

When we think of visiting Barcelona, the first idea we have is to go there in summer, to enjoy the beach, the sun and the eternal parties. You are quite right! But Barcelona is a real destination for all seasons, especially in autumn or winter, and we’ll prove it to you.

Pleasant weather and temperatures

Visiting Barcelona in summer means that you can enjoy great weather and high temperatures throughout your stay. However, when you want to do something other than go to the beach, this temperature can become a handicap. In November, temperatures hover around 12 degrees, with an average of 5 days of rain in a month. This makes the weather very pleasant, especially when compared to other European cities in the same season. Visiting Barcelona in November allows you to enjoy the city without being too cold or too hot, while enjoying the constant sunshine!

barceloneta beach barcelona empty volleyball autumn winter sand holidays enjoy

Less tourists

The most interesting thing about going on holiday in the low season is how few people are present in the tourist areas. This is especially true in November, as there are no school holidays during this period. It is therefore more pleasant to walk along Las Ramblas, the beach, or even your bike paths as you won’t feel like you are suffocating under the tourist rush. It’s also the perfect time to take beautiful souvenir photos without having a stranger come and spoil it! This is also the same situation in the restaurants, you will not need to make a long queue to be able to taste good tapas. It is not uncommon to find yourself face to face with a local, in the restaurant or in the street, which is a real cultural immersion.

Enjoying the local gastronomy

Speaking of restaurants, November is the perfect month to come and discover the local gastronomy. With the sun setting earlier and cooler temperatures, an evening out at a good local restaurant seems like the perfect activity! From the ever-popular Paella to Arroz Caldoso and Fricandó, Barcelona has plenty of specialities to warm you up after a long day of exploring. If you want to take a sweet break, don’t hesitate to stop at one of the many chocolate shops in the city to enjoy a good hot chocolate or churros con chocolate!

the Arroz Caldoso friendly dish winter spain barcelona family typical restaurant local rice

Many indoor activities

If you are unlucky enough to find that your holiday falls on the only rainy days of the month, or that the temperature is too low for you, don’t worry! Barcelona is full of indoor activities. Whether it’s the Gaudi houses, the Sagrada Familia, the aquarium, or one of the many museums (over 55!), you’ll be spoilt for choice. If you’re more of a shopping enthusiast, you can stroll through the Corte Ingles, the Maremagnum or the authentic Boqueria market while staying dry!

picasso museum barcelona family culture discovery activity leisure holiday

Last but not least,the price

If, despite all these points, you are still sceptical about the idea of taking your holiday in November, you should know that this is one of the cheapest seasons. Whether it’s for transport or accommodation, it’s the opportunity to offer yourself a dream trip that you couldn’t afford in high season!

Don’t hesitate to visit Barcelona in November!

Llum BCN 2021

Created in 2012, the Llum BCN will be back on the streets of Barcelona on 5, 6 and 7 November 2021. Originally scheduled for February this year, the festival of lights has had to be moved to November, to the delight of end-of-year visitors. Poblenou, as it has been since the 2018 edition, has been chosen to host one of the most anticipated events in the city’s cultural calendar.

Llum BCN is a large-scale light show featuring international artists. For three nights, the festival will bring together these creative explorers from different disciplines: art, lighting design and interactive environments, architecture, extended audiovisual and performing arts. Attending this festival will of course give you the opportunity to fill your eyes with stars, but also to ask yourself questions, since its aim is also to challenge our preconceived visions of what urban space can be and to create new models of participation and coexistence in public space. During three nights, the public can also discover a new neighbourhood, as in many cases the doors of restricted spaces are opened for the first time. It is a unique event for its artistic singularity, like the great European festivals of light.

In previous editions, Llum BCN has welcomed leading creators such as Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, United Visual Artists, Luke Jerram, Julio Le Parc, Daniel Canogar and others. Like this year’s participants, they are part of the official programme with Barcelona’s design, architecture, art and lighting schools, in a coexistence between leading artists and works from the academy, a distinctive element of the Llum BCN model.

This year there are 31 proposals from 14 different artists, three of them international. Among the places or spaces where you can enjoy a show of light, music and colour are the Plaça de les Glòries, Les Encants, the façade of Disseny Hub Barcelona, the Pompeu Fabra University, Jardí del Sol, the Plaça de les Glòries…

moon torre agbar lights event festival architecture llum

This year the festival pays tribute to the figure of the artist Eugenia Balcells. She will present two installations as part of “Light as the voice of matter”: the projection of the work Frequencies on the façade of the Museu del Disseny will show the chemical symbols of each element, and the work “From infrared to ultraviolet”, which will illuminate the neighbouring Glòries building and show the horizons of colour on an urban scale.

You will also be able to see the work of Jordi Mitjà, which is based on a ban: “Don’t look”, which is what his father used to say to him when he was welding, and he has taken this name to search for options and observations that allow us to get as close as possible to the light and, in the room, it is resolved by three video projections. You can wander around the visual and sound installation and get closer to the projected images in the Hangar space, Centro de Producción e Investigación de Artes Visuales (Carrer d’Emília Coranty, 8-16).

There is also a gastronomic area run by Van Van Llum where all festival visitors can enjoy a meeting and resting point where you can taste different hot dishes from the now famous food trucks parked in the area.

2020 lights wall coulour festival llum architecture

How to book?

This edition of Llum BCN has limited spaces. The festival is free, but it is advisable to book in advance to reduce queues and to be able to plan the visit, choose the times and improve the quality of the experience.

La Castanyada: the international chestnut festival

This traditional and popular festival, deeply rooted in Catalonia, is celebrated on All Saints’ Day (1 November), but also the day before (31 October).

The tradition of this festival is to eat chestnuts. Chestnuts are traditionally eaten on the day before and the day of Castanyada, but they can be found at street vendors in Barcelona at any time in late October.

What is it?

Chestnuts are roasted chestnuts on charcoal grills and often sold wrapped in newspaper, perfect for warming company when it is cold in Barcelona. Panellets are also very common in Barcelona at this time of year. They can be described as small almond-flavoured balls covered with pine nuts. These snacks are served in coconut, lemon or chocolate flavours. They are beautiful and traditional, and you can find them mainly in local bakeries. If you visit Barcelona during this period, this is a must-have dessert, which can also be used as a souvenir!

If you have a salty palate, you can also find sweet potatoes during the Castanyada. These little delicacies will warm you up from the inside out, often accompanied by a glass of sweet traditional muscatel wine.

chestnut, autumn, october, november, eating, food street, barcelona

Where does this festival come from?

Castanyada is a pagan tradition – like Magosto in Galicia or Asturias or Halloween in the Anglo-Saxon countries – whose origins date back to the 18th century. There are several legends that explain these beginnings. It is said that before All Saints’ Day, families gathered to watch over their dead. In order to survive, they stocked up on the first fruits of autumn, mainly chestnuts, legumes and sweet potatoes washed down with sweet wine (today’s Muscat). This custom gave rise to the emblematic figure of the “castanyera”, who prayed while the chestnuts were roasting.

Another theory is that the festival was for bell ringers, who rang the bells all night to remind the faithful of the need to pray for the souls of their dead. Whenever they rested, they regained their strength by eating what people brought them, in this case the fruits of autumn.

How is it celebrated?

Although most festivities in Catalonia include wild street parties, dancing, costumes and fireworks. The castanyada is more of a quiet celebration, with most families going to the cemetery to lay flowers and then spend time with their loved ones. If you are in Barcelona during this festival, do as the locals do and visit one of the city’s most beautiful cemeteries, the Poblenou Cemetery.

Vive Montjuïc

Vive Montjuïc, the cultural park, is a celebration in which, on 16 and 17 October 2021, the 22 cultural facilities that inhabit Montjuïc will offer their own and joint activities, with the aim of promoting the cultural offer of this very special place.

Considered the lungs of the city, Montjuïc Park is a hill overlooking the old city and the old port of Barcelona. Many buildings were constructed here for the 1992 Summer Olympics. It is well known to tourists for its castle, its splendid view and its cable car. But Montjuïc is much more than that. It is a unique offer that combines forest areas with themed gardens, leisure, sports and service areas, but of course, culture.

montjuic garden tree nature sky tourism discover barcelona

Due to the need to make all citizens aware of the particularities of Montjuïc Park and all the facilities it contains, the city has decided to carry out a joint cultural action aimed at both locals and tourists, in order to share the cultural wealth of the place.

This year will be the first edition of this event. The aim is to repeat the experience every year. This project is part of the Montjuïc Park Action Plan 2019-2029. It is a municipal plan that seeks to make the cultural activity of the Park visible, as well as to create new spaces, establish synergies between all the sites that make it up, all with the aim of recovering the spirit of the 1929 International Exhibition.

During the weekend of 16 and 17 October, you can enjoy over 70 activities for all ages. Guided and theatrical routes, participatory interventions, guided tours and treasure hunts, concerts, dance and theatre performances, etc. There will also be reserved areas for eating, drinking and resting. You can also visit the centres that will be holding open days – Castell de Montjuïc, Cementiri de Montjuïc, Espai Bombers and Jardí Botànic – or take a guided tour of some of the exhibitions currently on show in the institutions, such as the Coneix CaixaForum Barcelona. Modernisme modernitat at CaixaForum or Memòria de les Arts Escèniques at the Institut del Teatre. Some institutions even organise treasure hunts, such as the Museu Etnològic i de Cultures del Món, the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya and the Poble Espanyol.

castel of montjuic culture tourim art barcelona

All activities are free of charge and you must register on the Vive Montjuïc website. : https://www.barcelona.cat/viumontjuic/es

Don’t hesitate, come and (re)discover Montjuïc Park this weekend!

Discovering the works of Lluís Domènech i Montaner

If you are asked to name an architect from Barcelona, you will undoubtedly think of Antoni Gaudi. Probably less known internationally, Lluís Domènech i Montaner is a Catalan architect known for his numerous modernist buildings in the city.

In this article we will introduce you to his different works that you probably don’t even know are his.

Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau – Arts i Cultura

The Hospital de Santa Creu is one of the most beautiful examples of civil and Catalan Gothic architecture.

A former gothic monastery built in 1401 and then rehabilitated as a hospital between 1905 and 1930 by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997.

Today it is a museum that allows you to travel through the history of Barcelona’s medicine and the history of one of the oldest health institutions in Europe. You can also walk through the tunnels that connect the different buildings underground and visit the most representative heritage spaces of the Administration Pavilion.

Palau de la Música Catalana – Consell Any Turisme Cultural

It took less than 3 years, from 1905 to 1908, for Barcelona to build one of its most impressive buildings: the Palau de la Música Catalana.

Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Palau de la Música is an artistic monument and a musical stage of international prestige.

Its construction, driven by a popular choral society, was entrusted to Domènech i Montaner. Together with a group of collaborators, including the famous Eusebio Arnau, Lluís Bru and Miquel Bla, he designed an innovative metal structure in a modernist style that allowed the use of materials such as stained glass walls, giving the building a greenhouse style. He innovates with the use of curtain walls and uses a wide variety of artistic techniques such as sculpture, mosaics, stained glass and ironwork.

Casa Fuster – Premium

Considered one of the most expensive buildings in the city, Casa Foster was built between 1908 and 1911 in collaboration with his father. Adopting a certain neo-gothic and modernist air, the beauty of the building comes from the use of expensive noble materials, such as white marble, glass or slate.

Domènech i Montaner’s work can be seen in the characteristic columns with a pinkish base, the three-lobed windows, the classic modernist floral decoration and the combination of curves and straight lines.

Classified in 1997 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and now transformed into a luxury hotel, the Casa Fuster has the good fortune to have Woody Allen as a regular guest, who chose the hotel in 2007 to direct some scenes from his award-winning film “Vicky, Cristina, Barcelona”.

Casa Navàs – Ciutat i Vila ami Caràcter

Built between 1901 and 1907, one of the most outstanding features of Casa Navàs is its magnificent interior decoration, which has remained practically intact thanks to the care of its owners: the ceramics, mosaics, graffiti, stonework and stained glass windows are excellent examples of the decorative arts of Modernism.

Fundació Tàpies – Consell Any Turisme Cultural

The main objective was to promote the study and knowledge of modern and contemporary art, for these reasons was founded in 1984 the Antoni Tapies Foundation, which today is a museum and cultural center mainly dedicated to the life and work of the Catalan painter Antoni Tàpies.

Built between 1881 and 1885 by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, its facade was the first in the Eixample to combine bare brick with wrought iron, following an Arabic architectural influence.

Today the Foundation has one of the most complete collections of Tàpies’ artworks, and also presents a wide range of exhibitions of other contemporary artists.

Now you will be able to talk about Barcelona’s architects without the discussion necessarily being about Antoni Gaudí!

Visit Barcelona in 3 days

You’ve decided to give yourself a few days off and have booked your flight to the Catalan capital but once you’re there you’re in trouble! You only have a few days to visit the big city and you don’t know where to start, don’t panic, we have prepared a guide to visit Barcelona in 3 days.

Day 1 – The historical center

The Holy Cross Cathedral and the Gothic Quarter

What better way to start than in one of Barcelona’s most emblematic neighborhoods? The Barrio Gòtico is what you might call the city’s historic center. A medieval district, you can discover the Sant Jaume square, the Plaça del Rei, the Barcelona History Museum, the Plaça Nova, the Plaça del Pi and above all the Holy Cross Cathedral, considered one of the city’s most important monuments. Don’t just admire it from the outside, the 7€ entrance fee is worth it, cloister, choir, chapels, you won’t know where to look

Walk on the Rambla

The Rambla is a must-see avenue in Barcelona and is a must during your stay. It is the busiest pedestrian avenue and connects the port of Barcelona to the Plaça Catalunya for approximately 2km. Going down to the port you will be able to observe the Grand Theatre of the Liceu, the mosaic of Joan Miro, the Plaça Reial and the Güell Palace.

The Boqueria market

Also located on the Rambla you will find the Boqueria market. The oldest market in Barcelona, you can’t miss its entrance marked by a large portal in the Art Nouveau style.

Casa Batlló and Casa Mila

Both symbols of Barcelona, we owe these creations to the famous architect Antoni Gaudi. Located on the Passeig de Gracia, it takes about 20 minutes to walk from the market. Both registered in the world heritage of the UNESCO, the Casa Batlló can also be known as Casa del Ossos due to its balconies in the shape of skull and the Casa Mila under the name of La Pedrera in reference to the cliffs from which Gaudi would have been inspired. Our article will introduce you to these two essential works in more detail.

Day 2 – Gràcia

Güell Park

Built between 1900 and 1914, the Güell Park was built to house gardens and about 60 houses, but due to a lack of budget, only 4 houses were built. Divided in 2 parts (one paying and the other free) it is in the paying zone that you will be able to admire the wavy bench and the mosaic salamander. Don’t hesitate to go up to the Mirador de Virolai, which will offer you a panoramic view of the most beautiful places in Barcelona.

The Bunkers del Carmel

Let’s continue with another point of view which are the Bunkers del Carmel. Located on the Turo de la Riviera on an old anti-aircraft base, they offer a 360° view of the city. From the Parc Güell it is a 20-minute walk, but you can also get there by bus.

The Recinta Modernista de Sant Pau

Our path continues towards the Recinta Modernista de Sant Pau. Formerly a public hospital, it now hosts exhibitions. A visit to the different buildings that trace the history of the place is possible but if you are in a hurry you can just observe its architecture from the outside.

The Sagrada Familia

A must-see is the Sagrada Familia. Major work of Gaudi, this basilica is classified as a world heritage site by UNESCO and is the most visited monument in Spain. Although it will not be completed until 2026, it is well worth the visit from the inside, let yourself be enchanted by the colors of the stained glass windows and the spectacular architecture of the interior.

The El Born neighborhood

To finish this day nothing better than a walk in the El Born neighborhood. Together with the Barrio Gotico it forms the old town of Barcelona, old stores, tapas bars, gothic churches, Picasso museum, Music Palace, you will not lack things to see. Don’t forget the Citadel Park and the Arc de Triomphe in this neighborhood.

Day 3 – Montjuïc Hill

Plaça Espanya

To begin this last day of visit we give you an appointment on the Plaça d’Espanya. Built in 1929 for the Universal Exhibition according to the plans of the architect Puig y Cadafalch, this square is recognizable by its large sculpture installed in the center of the huge traffic circle. Around the square you can also find Las Arenas, an old bullring transformed into a shopping center, on its roof you can enjoy a breathtaking view.

The MNAC

The National Art Museum of Catalonia is located in front of the Plaça d’Espanya, passing by the Magic Fountain. Housed in a palace, it is one of the most interesting museums in Barcelona and one of the largest in Spain. It houses the richest collection of Romanesque art in the world!

Montjuic Park

The green lung of the city, take the Montjuic cable car to get there. The park is home to green spaces and gardens as well as museums such as the Olympic Museum and the Joan Miro Foundation. A good opportunity to enjoy beautiful views of the sea and the city, visit the botanical gardens, museums and historical monuments.

The Olympic facilities

In order to host the 1992 Olympic Games, many sports facilities had to be created, which you can visit today on Montjuic hill. You can see the Olympic stadium, the Palau Sant Jordi, the Calatrava Earth, the Sports Palace of Barcelona and the Pavilion of Industrial Spain.

The Castle of Montjuic

In the park of Montjuic you can also find the Castle. Built in 1640 to protect the city from Catalan rebels, Montjuic Castle was later converted into a prison and then a military museum in 1960. The visit, which will cost you 5€, will allow you to walk around the ramparts, visit the military museum and admire the magnificent panorama of the Barcelona coastline.

The Magic Fountain

To close these 3 days in Barcelona we suggest you return to the Plaça Espanya to enjoy tapas before enjoying the show at the Magic Fountain. Located between the MNAC and the square, the Magic Fountain of Montjuic welcomes the public every evening from Wednesday to Sunday (from 8pm from November to March, and from 9pm from April to October) with light shows on a musical background.

Now you know how to visit Barcelona in 3 days! Visiting the city by bike can also be rewarding, especially since we offer guided tours with local guides. Choose the Gothic to Modernism Bike Tour if you want to visit the points of the first day or the Montjuic Bike Tour to discover the last day itinerary by bike.

This summer do not get bored with the museums of Barcelona

Concerts, poetry, cinema and guided tours, among the multitude of scheduled activities.

For some time now, many museums have been organizing activities that go beyond the usual exhibitions. The summer that is now beginning is a good example of this desire of museums to be not only a place to go to observe historical or valuable objects or where to acquire knowledge from static pieces, but also to be cultural dynamizers from very diverse activities and a meeting point for citizens. From the end of June to the end of September, the museum spaces of the city of Barcelona, both municipal and consortium and also many private, mount dozens of proposals ranging from film screenings to concerts and poetry recitals, as well as courses and workshops, guided tours and dynamic, open days, and even games of clues and trivia. There will be something for everyone and for all age groups.

projection of a movie in the Park Güell of Barcelona

Some of the summer activities of the museums, moreover, have two singularities compared to most of those organized by these facilities in the other seasons: there are many more in outdoor spaces, and in the afternoon-evening time slot. Among the multitude of proposals that you will find, we mention for example the free express tours organized by El Born Centre de Cultura i Memòria, the outdoor film series of the Museum of History of Barcelona (MUHBA) to be held in a unique space such as Park Güell and will be called Portraying Barcelona on the threshold of the XXI century, or the itineraries by sea of the Maritime Museum of Barcelona (MMB), one aboard a traditional sailboat and another with the historic pailebote Santa Eulàlia. Precisely the MMB starts this summer a virtual escape room entitled Mar adentro… guardas del tiempo, and, with three other spaces, the Botanical Garden of Barcelona, the Museu d’Arqueología de Catalunya and the Centro de Cultura Contemporánea de Barcelona, organizes the fifth edition of the cultural trivia team Museum Quiz Summer Tour, a free activity with prior registration inspired by the pub quiz, a question and answer contest played in the pubs of Great Britain.

Music will be very present in the summer program of the museums, and, in addition, you can see and hear concerts in charming places. The Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Pedralbes, the Palau Güell, Casa Vicens, the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion, Montjuïc Castle and the Museum of the History of Catalonia are some of the emblematic places that will host these shows. On the other hand, there are those that make summer casals related to the theme in which they are specialized, as is the case of the Egyptian Museum or the Design Museum of Barcelona, while the Museu Etnològic i de Cultures del Món offers the casals combined visits with workshops. There are spaces that will live a particularly intense month of July, such as the Arts Santa Monica, scene of the international festival of contemporary art and charity Kronos Art Barcelona and the emerging photography festival Art Photo Bcn.

Check all the details of the activities on the websites of the respective museums and cultural facilities, and also on the websites of the Institute of Culture of Barcelona.

You can also spend the summer with our bike tours and enjoy several of the museums presented.

The history of the bicycle

It is very difficult to tell the history of the bicycle, from one person to another the inventor can be different according to the definition we have of a bicycle.

So as not to confuse you, we have selected 5 key dates that retrace the history of the bicycle and in addition, a small video showing the evolution over time.

1817 – It all started without pedals

The ancestor of the bicycle is the dandy horse, invented by the German Baron Karl Drais von Sauerbronn in 1817. It is a wooden vehicle with very little steel, two wheels in a row and a handlebar for steering. To move forward, you have to push yourself with your feet on the ground. Conceived in 1817, the invention was patented in 1818.

dandy horse invented by Karl Drais von Sauerbronn in 1817

1860’s decade – Pedals on the front wheel

In the 1860’s in Paris, the first pedal velocipedes were marketed by Sargent, Michaux and Vincent. Pierre Michaux, a locksmith, is said to have invented the pedal velocipede when a hatter brought him a draisienne with a faulty front wheel for repair. One of his sons would have tried it and would have complained about the inconvenience of keeping his legs up once the vehicle was launched. Pierre Michaux would then have imagined footrests positioned on the wheel which allows to turn the hub of the wheel.

first pedal velocipede created by Pierre Michaux in the 1860's decade

Decade of 1870 – Invention of the penny-farthing

The pedals being fixed on both sides of the front wheel hub, it was necessary to increase the size of the front wheel in order to give more impulse to the velocipede at each pedal stroke and thus go faster. The size of the rear wheel is reduced, serving only to maintain the balance of the velocipede. The first penny-farthing, Ordinary was born in 1872. It was a huge success with the bourgeoisie in England and France.

1880’s – The modern bicycle

In 1884, the chain was invented by John Kemp Starley. He created, with the Coventry Sewing Machine Company, the bicycle with reasonable-sized wheels and a chain drive. In 1886, Peugeot started marketing these bicycles. Finally, in 1888, John Boyd Dunlop invented the tire and filed a patent. The bicycle became more efficient and more comfortable. In 1891, Edouard Michelin, perfects the tire by imagining the “removable tire”, it is the arrival of the inner tube. The two great names of the tire are still there today.

modern bicycle with a chain, equal wheels size and pedals in the middle

20th century – The bicycle of today

At the beginning of the 20th century, thanks to the Second Industrial Revolution, the bicycle became the queen of transportation. The first Tour de France, won by Maurice Garin, is realized in 1903 and meets a real craze and allows to reinforce the popularity of the bicycle.

Finally, it is in the 1930’s that the use of a multi-speed system became widespread. Finally, it was not until the 1950s that the first derailleur appeared. We can now recognize our current bikes!

The first bike lane, with a pick and shovel

Today Barcelona has exactly 240 kilometers of bike lanes in the city. But do you know when the first bike lane in Barcelona was built?

It was not the City Council that built it, but the cyclists themselves who demanded the use of this means of transport in the city. Already in 1982 Amics de la Bici created an imaginary bike lane with a ride along the Paseo de Gracia and Provença.

A year later, in 1983 the Gracia Verde collective painted green what would become the first “pirate” bike lane on Passeig de Gràcia and Diputació. Using pick and shovel they lowered the curbs, painted the ground with “bike lane” and the drawing of a bicycle.

After the actions of Amics de la Bici and pressure from other groups in the City Council, that same year the first official bike lane was made on the street of Consell de Cent and Diputació, but it was still very dangerous for cyclists and could only be used on weekends.

Currently, although the number of bike lanes is increasing, several demands are still pending. Lanes not very connected, narrow, deformed lanes, dangerous crossings, Amics de la Bici tries to put forward all these problems. The main demand of Amics de la Bici is the safety of users, fairer regulations and cities for people.

As you can see, the first bike lane is quite recent and like all the others, it is not perfect. To continue to support the city’s cyclists the City Council aims to reach 308 kilometers of bike lanes before the end of its mandate, bike enthusiasts that we are we hope to reach this figure as soon as possible and not stop at those 308 kilometers.

International Museum Day

Every year since 1977, ICOM organizes the International Museum Day on May 18th. The aim of this day is to raise awareness of the fact that museums are an important medium for cultural exchange and the enrichment of cultures.

After a year of pandemic that has affected us all, especially the world of culture, with serious economic, social and psychological repercussions, for this edition we could not find a better theme than “The future of museums: recovering and reimagining”.

ICOM poster on the occasion of the International Day of Museums on May 18, 2021

In Barcelona, the Night of the Museums of Barcelona is already organized on May 15. European initiative since 2005, during this night from 07:00PM until 01:00AM different museums, centers and cultural spaces attached to the event will offer free access to their local.

More than 70 museums will open their doors for you to come and recover what the pandemic took from us. Museums such as La Pedrera, the Picasso Museum, the Palacio Güell, etc. Visit the official website for more information about the museums participating in this event.

With the Montjuïc Bike Tour we organize you can visit the National Art Museum of Catalonia but to fully enjoy this event nothing better than renting a bike and visit each museum or center as you wish.

Don’t forget, on May 15th the Night of the Museums in Barcelona and on May 18th the International Museums Day!

International family day in family

On May 15th we will celebrate International Family Day in Barcelona. Born Bike wishes to take advantage of this day to take a family outing to celebrate dialogue, learning and strengthening bonds.

A day of sharing…

image containing a letter happy international family day, flowers, texts, photos of a family with a dog, Born Bike Tours Barcelona

Born Bike Tours Barcelona wishes to share with you the Catalan cultural heritage during a guided bike tour to discover the city in a different way. Let’s balance the private and professional spheres by having a good time discovering, learning and doing physical activity.

Apart from our tours, you can customize yours, let us know what you want !

We are committed to cycling

Passionate about outdoor activities, sports and bicycles, we have united to ride and enjoy Barcelona fun, healthy and different. The bike is also an alternative solution to circumvent the city and the most efficient means of transport in terms of energy. It is the most practical, healthy and durable: it does not produce smoke, does not make noise, it does not consume energy and helps to recover the streets, the spaces of coexistence of citizens.

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The bike has many advantages and here are five of them:

1. Increased safety: The bike is a safe transportation that helps reduce the number of car accidents through variation in speed. However, we must not forget to circulate with caution and pay attention to other users of the road.

2. Better mobility: Did you know that the bike is faster than the car over short and medium urban distances? In the city center with all the prohibited senses and pedestrian spaces, the bike is the fastest transport.

3. Take care of the environment: Cycling is a key factor in reducing environmental contamination levels.

4. Greater pleasure: a cyclist occupies five times less space than a motorist, whether he is stopped as if he moves. These data have very deep implications in the well-being of residents, who can enjoy more peaceful, quieter and safe spaces.

5. Healthier: Cycling is one of the most beneficial exercises for health because large muscle groups are mobilized during the effort. If it is practiced regularly, it allows to keep in shape. In addition, it helps prevent coronary heart disease, hypertension, cholesterol and diabetes.

To book a tour or rent a bike nothing simpler, contact us
Born Bike Tours Barcelona
Carrer de la Brandsa n ° 1 08003 Barcelona
50 meters from Barceloneta metro station L (4) Yellow
✉️info@bornbikebarcelona.com.
🔹www.bornbikebikebarcelona.com.
📲 (+34) 93 319 00 20

Sunsets on bicycle

Barcelona is one of the most bike-friendly cities in Spain, with almost 200 kilometers of bike lanes, used both for those who use the bike as a means of daily transportation or for those who are just walking around the city, getting to know it and discovering its streets.

In Born Bike Tours Barcelona we propose a tour of the beach and the Barcelona neighborhood. Where you will find a complete tour, passing through the following points:

Christopher Columbus Monument
Drassanes
Port Vell
Palau del Mar
Barceloneta neighborhood
Olympic Port
Forum of Cultures
Parc Diagonal Mar
Poblenou neighborhood
Olympic Village (Olympic Games 1992)
Ciutadella Park

The tour runs almost entirely on peaceful roads without traffic, bike lanes and zones 30, very safe for all ages.

We accompany you with experienced guides who know the city and its history. In the course of the tour we will make several stops to liste, contemplate and enjoy each point and where you can take your pictures and your memories of the tour.

Live Barcelona on wheels!

Benefits of cycling

This is not a novelty that we are fanatics of bicycles. Go walking, take the air, see the city that surrounds us, the landscape, the sea. Mounted on the bike everything seems to have another perspective, we want to tell you the benefits it gives you a walk or to do Bike sport.

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1. A good way to exercise: the bike is a good exercise to work almost all our body and not just the legs. A bike ride makes us do cardio-cardio exercise and strength, especially legs, abdomen, back and arms.

2. Help our posture: Walk or pedal helps improve our posture. People passionate about yoga can go to their bike class. Adopt a sport routine!

3. A transport on time and available immediately: between bottling, pedestrians Parking, everything becomes a chaos and more if you go to the center of Barcelona, which is why the bike is a great allies that facilitates your daily life .

4. Take care of the environment and your leaflet: a car and public transport generate an additional expense per month. You simply move by bike: fast and good for health.

5. A much faster brain: The bike improves the functioning of your brain, influencing cognitive function, mental health and well-being, as has confirmed a study by the University of Oxford. The study, led by Dr. Leyland, investigated the impact of outdoor pedaling. The parameters, the cognitive function and the well-being, were measured before and after the period of use (for 8 weeks, at least three times a week and at least 30 minutes per session) and it was observed that not only The physical impact of cycling improves, but at the level of mental activity, the benefits are more important.

6. Sleeping more, the dream of all: exercise Every day helps to reconcile with sleep, about 20 to 30 minutes of pedal will help you better rest and eliminate the stress of everyday life.

7. Eternal Youth: The increase in blood circulation caused by the pedaling exercise transports the oxygen and nutrients required to epithelial cells more efficiently while eliminating toxins or other waste. Moderate exercise helps to optimize collagen production, reduce the appearance of wrinkles and accelerate the healing process.

8. Take care of your joints: the bike is a less risky sport than run for our joints, and the result is very similar.

9. Improve your performance in any type of sport: many athletes use cycling as a support sport to improve their muscle or respiratory performance. Objective 30 days of bike and see the difference!

10. And finally, the best advantage of cycling is that it will make you happy: Try it because it really works. Stroll, pedal, admire nature, city, beach, beaches, you will see how it changes ideas.

Do you already have your bike ready to travel Barcelona?

To reserve the Tour or rent a bike nothing simpler, contact us
Born Bike Tours Barcelona
📍Carrer de la Marquesa No. 1 08003 Barcelona
50 meters from Barceloneta metro station L (4) Yellow
✉️Info@bornbikebarcelona.com.
🔹www.bornbikebikebarcelona.com.
📲 (+34) 93 319 00 20

Tours of the Tamarita Gardens

The Tamarita gardens belonged to a two-hectare finca of the Craywinckel family, a Belgian aristocratic family that was created in Barcelona in the 18th century. And who at the beginning of the twentieth century was acquired by the entrepreneur Alfredo Mata. There, he built a house surrounded by gardens, whose conception is considered one of the first works of the architect and landscaping Nicolau M. Rubió I Tudurí, who has kept forms and provisions. original.

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The gardens are divided into two different areas, one of the most classicism and another one that benefits from the passage of the torrent of the White Fraine to offer a more spontaneous view.

The gardens are full of decorative elements that reinforce their origins of domestic gardens, small ponds with fountain jets, terracotta figures, stone glasses, marble and ceramics converted into fountains, shers ornamental.

When you visit, when you enter, you will see a small pond surrounded by climbing plants. The whole hides one of the garden pavilions which now has social use as headquarters of the neighborhood association and a service building.

In the most classic garden, you will find a parterre (official garden design) of French origin. We find boards and roses, replanted to recover the original appearance of the garden in its last rehabilitation. Then there is a space that makes plazoleta features with an oval source, the place of the four continents, a nymph with the waterfall of the Gruta fountain and the meadow that leads us to the wild part of the garden.

The Tamaite gardens are perfect if you want to visit and admire the different varieties of shapes, statues and flowers.

If you want to know more about the history of Barcelona, follow our social links.
Born Bike Tours Barcelona
📍Carrer de la Marquesa No. 1 08003 Barcelona
50 meters from Barceloneta metro station L (4) Yellow
✉️Info@bornbikebarcelona.com.
🔹www.bornbikebikebarcelona.com.
📲 (+34) 93 319 00 20

Visiting Park Güell

For those who still do not know the Park Güell, located in the foothills of the Collserola mountain range. The park was designed by the architect Antoni Gaudí, commissioned by the businessman Eusebi Güell. Built between 1900 and 1914, it was inaugurated as a public park in 1926.

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Park Güell is a reflection of Gaudí’s artistic fullness: it belongs to his naturalistic stage, a period in which the architect perfected his personal style, through inspiration in the organic forms of nature, for which he put into practice a whole series of new structural solutions originated in his deep analysis of the ruled geometry, there you will be able to see.

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The Dragon Staircase, when you stand in front of it you will find a staircase that is organized in three sections, the one on the right served as a refuge or waiting space and is supported by a magnificent central column of conical shape, on the other hand Halfway up the staircase is the coat of arms of Catalonia and higher up is the dragon – or salamander – covered in trencadís, which has become the most popular image in the park.

The Pórtico de la Lavander, on the east side of the Greek Theater square, there is an original iron gate that leads to where the gardens of the Casa Larrard were, the old stately farmhouse that Güell adopted as his own house and that since 1931 is a college.

The Greek Theater or Plaza de la Naturaleza: in the middle of Park Güell is the Plaza de la Naturaleza, formerly known as Greek theater, its original name responded to the fact that it was planned for holding large outdoor shows, which could be seen from the terraces that surround it.

The Hypostyle Hall formed by 86 fluted columns that are inspired by the Doric order. The outermost ones lean, in an undulating movement and openly contrary to the rules of classical composition, while reinforcing the perception of their structural function. The colonnade is crowned by a cornice on which the undulating bench is located. A pipe arranged inside collects the rainwater that leaks from the square to store it in a large underground cistern, which has as a spillway the dragon’s mouth of the staircase.

Recommendation: spend an afternoon exploring the corners of Park Güell and enjoying the nature of Barcelona

Let’s rent a bike and discover !

If you want to know more about Barcelona, follow our social links
Born Bike Tours Barcelona
📍Carrer de la Marquesa Nº 1 08003 Barcelona
50 meters from metro station Barceloneta L (4) yellow
✉️info@bornbikebarcelona.com
🔹www.bornbikebarcelona.com
📲(+34) 93 319 00 20

Walk through Collserola

The Colserolla park, with more than 8,000 hectares, is an invaluable natural heritage. Its importance lies in the proximity of the urban environment. It is the lung and backbone of biodiversity. It is ultimately the city’s connection to nature.

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Collserola highlights a great diversity of landscapes and incredible views over the city. Its layout, which encompasses the entire northern limit of the city, acts as a border and delimits the city between two great natural elements: the sea, to the south, and the mountain, to the north.

This large longitudinal park represents, for Barcelona, the potential to be, at the same time, a large green space in contact with the urban fabric and the starting point of a whole series of green corridors that connect the city to the sea. visible across Montjuïc, to the west, but which is achievable from Besòs, to the east, and also through the urban center connecting different urban parks. These corridors connect spaces that range from Ciutadella Park and Linear Waterfront Parks to Aigües Park, Guinardó Park, Güell Park and Creueta del Coll Park, among others.

Let’s rent a bike and discover!

Walk in the Labyrinth of Horta

Barcelona is a city characterized by many qualities: history, architecture, nature and cycle paths. Neighborhoods are their own characteristic and the beauty of each different.

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Today let’s talk about the Labyrinth of Horta, a park transformed into a museum garden, which takes an architectural and design journey through the duality between neoclassicism and romanticism.

To get to know the park, you will find a Chinese gate, a vestige of an oriental garden which has now disappeared, and continue through the boxwood garden (Buxus sempervirens), a furtive garden that preserves the spirit of the Italian designer, landscaper and gardener Domenico Bagutti., creator of the park commissioned by Antoni Deszanjas, Marquis de Llupià i Alfarràs. From this garden, born of careful pruning, there are paths leading to the temples of Ariadne and Danae, to the domestic garden and also to the romantic garden, which occupies the entire left flank of the park.

An interesting fact is that Sundays are free, you can enter with family, friends or alone and walk through the different parts of the park.

New Years, New Travel

2021 is here and the best way to start the year with a visit. Let’s start the year with a little culture, adventure and fun. We hope that this year we can travel and enjoy Barcelona as we could not in 2020 and that you continue to choose us to give you a memorable experience.

Today we are going to tell you a little history about the Olympic Village of Barcelona, a tour that we do by bike knowing Montjuic, its history, its views and its charms.

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The Vila Olímpica district is made up of a series of wide avenues facing the sea. Strolling through its streets, along the promenade, is the best way to rediscover the city’s Olympic spirit.

The 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games served to reshape the city of Barcelona and make it known as it is today. They were designed by the architects Josep Martorell, Oriol Bohigas, David Mackay and Albert Puigdomènech.

The Vila Olímpica was the official residence of the athletes at the 1992 Olympic Games, but the athletes gave way to the families who settled in the neighborhood, and it has become a benchmark of quality and tranquility in Barcelona. Wide avenues, such as Avenida de Icària or Avenida del Bogatell, fill with light and invite you to stroll. The Olympic port and Nova Icària opened up the seafront and allowed Barcelona to face the sea and enjoy it again. And what’s more, they have become one of the city’s major leisure spots.

Happy New Year

Happy 2021!

In our last note of the year, we wanted to wish you a Happy 2021 and leave you more historical data so that we can know together the history of Barcelona. We will talk about El Fossar de les Moreres.

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For those who do not yet know the Fossar de les Moreres is an old church cemetery.

The Fossar de les Moreres had historical relevance during the siege of Barcelona (1713-1714), when it became a common grave for the men and women who died in defense of the city. In 1989 the space was remodeled, acquiring the aspect that it has today, and in 2001 the cauldron was erected with the flame in memory of those who fell during the siege.

On September 11, 1714, in the context of the War of the Spanish Succession, Barcelona surrendered to the Bourbon troops after 13 months of resistance, and Felipe V entered the city triumphantly, initiating a harsh repression against the Catalan population and institutions. Eventually, September 11 became Catalonia’s National Day, and the Fossar de les Moreres, the stage where different political, cultural and social events take place every year.

Happy Holidays

Born Bike Tours Barcelona wishes you happy holidays!

This year has been a different and special year, but we will not stop celebrating Christmas and wishing you happy holidays.

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We recommend taking a stroll through central Barcelona, where you can see the traditional Nativity scene in Plaça de Sant Jaume, this year focused on family meals and good wishes, or the classic Nativity scene in the Frédéric Marès Museum.

Plaça de Catalunya will once again be the epicenter of the city’s Christmas program for 12 days. Morning and family activities, whether literature, science, plastic arts and sports. Evenings with dance, circus and live music proposals. And you will find the universalism of Charles Dickens with “Life cinema” made in Barcelona.

This year, traditional Christmas fairs are also organized, such as Santa Llúcia, Sagrada Familia or the Fair of the Three Kings on Gran Vía. According to health authorities, these fairs are considered comparable to non-sedentary markets and must meet specific conditions. For example, restrictions on access control, perimeter or capacity limitation.

Historical bicycle tour

Today we will show you one of the most interesting place in Barcelona and what it behinds.

The archeological remains excavated and that can be seen today inside the old Born Market show us the history of Barcelona from medieval times until the beginning of the 18th century, when life in this part of the city was suddenly interrupted by the outcome of the War of Succession.

Not all the remains have the same entity nor have they been preserved in the same way. We must keep in mind that the remains preserved before the 13th century were not part of the urban core of Barcelona, although they were related. On the other hand, from the 13th century, the structures onwards the city, as a consequence of its growth.

Despite being an area far from the city of Barcino, the Born area preserves in its subsoil burial from medieval times.

The first archeological remains documented in areas close to the Born date from the low-Imperial period. In this period an extensive necropolis was located, the main nucleus of which was located in what, some centuries later, would be the subsoil of Santa Maria Del Mar. No burials from this period have been located inside the old market, but in the archeological intervention of the Commercial Square in 1991, fourteen were located.

The athletic tower in Barcelona

In our bike tours Barcelona we have climbed the Montjuic mountain where we find the athletic tower built by the architect Santiago Calatrava, between 1989 and 1992, it is one of the best known elements that are part of the so-called Olympic Ring, referring to the whole of facilities that were built and remodeled on the occasion of the Barcelona 92 Olympic Games.

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Its enormous white and curved silhouette, reminiscent of an Olympic torch celebration, can be seen from many points of the city. Its avant-garde design and original shapes have made it a famous element of Montjuïc and a symbol of Barcelona.

The tower is a clear tribute to the modernist architect Antoni Gaudí. Its promoter was the Telefónica company, which is why it is also known as the Telefónica tower.

A curious fact is that, due to its shape, the tower is also designed to act as a sundial, as the shadow of its central spire is projected on the Plaza de Europa, which is next to it.

In addition to its functionality, its futuristic style of sloping lines and modern materials that evokes a moving image has made Torre Calatrava an architectural landmark in Barcelona.

If you want to discover Barcelona on wheels, don’t miss our tours
Born Bike Tours Barcelona
📍Carrer de la Marquesa Nº 1 08003 Barcelona
A 50 metros estación metro Barceloneta L (4) amarilla
✉️info@bornbikebarcelona.com
🔹www.bornbikebarcelona.com
📲(+34) 93 319 00 20

Gaudí’s Barcelona

If there is an architect associated with Barcelona, that is, without a doubt, Antoni Gaudí. His mature works, such as La Pedrera, Park Güell and the Sagrada Familia, are internationally known icons that attract thousands of visitors daily. However, in the city there are also several works by this great artist that are not so well known and that often, due to being far from the usual circuits, go unnoticed and make up a little-explored route, but no less spectacular.

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Like the ones we list here:

The Pavilions of Finca Güell
The gate of Finca Miralles
The pavement of Sant Pacià
The Bellesguard Tower
The Vicens House

If you want to know more about the architectural works of Antoni Gaudí you can do a bike tours with us.
Born Bike Tours Barcelona
📍Carrer de la Marquesa Nº 1 08003 Barcelona
50 meters away from the Barceloneta L (4) yellow metro station
✉️info@bornbikebarcelona.com
🔹www.bornbikebarcelona.com
📲 (+34) 93 319 00 20

Walk around the Arch of Triumph by bike

We started a new month and went out to walk the streets of Barcelona in search of new adventures.

Today we will make a tour by bicycle through the Arch of Triumph which was built on the occasion of the Universal Exhibition of 1888, the Arch of Triumph led the way to the main entrance of the fair, in the park of the Ciutadella, which had just opened.

During the last third of the 19th century, the universal expositions were events of enormous social impact, since they allowed everyone to get to know the city that hosted them, as well as the cultural, economic, scientific and industrial potential of each country. In this sense, the Arch of Triumph was not only the access to the Universal Exhibition of 1888, but also the symbolic entry of Barcelone into the modern era.

At the height of the modernist movement in much of Europe, constructions inspired by previous eras were very common: the Neo-Gothic, the Neo-Mudejar in Spain or the Neo-Romanesque were some of the predominant styles.

Following this trend, the architect Josep Vilaseca designed a monument 30 meters high and of classical proportions, but with a very colorful decoration and full of symbolism. Thus, the artists who sculpted the decorative friezes represented, on each of the faces, a theme related to the city: Barcelona welcomes the nations (on the side of Passeig de Sant Joan, work of Josep Reynés), the Distribution of rewards to the participants of the Exhibition (on the side of Passeig de Lluís Comanys, work of Josep Llimona) and the allegories of Industry, Agriculture and Trade, on one side, and of Science and Arts, on the other. The famas (the winged figures of the buttresses) were sculpted by Manuel Fuxà and Pere Carbonell.

Finally, in the curve of the arch, the coat of arms of Barcelona can be seen, flanked by the coats of arms of the remaining 48 Spanish provinces, 24 on each face of the monument.

In our tour in Spanish we arrive at Plaça Sant Felip Neri

Among the narrow walls of the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, we are in the Plaza de Sant Felip Neri, where we see holes in the walls, which originate in 1938, caused by a bombardment by the Francoist side during the war, in the middle of the capture of Barcelona.

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This event caused the death of forty-two people, as can be read on the plaque that commemorates the memory of the victims since 2007. At the time of the bombing, the grounds of the current square were occupied by a medieval cemetery. Little remained after the bomb, which devastated nearby houses and caused some damage, still present, in the church.

Ciutadella Park

We continue with our Tour in Spanish and now we find the Ciutadella Park, being the first park specifically designed as a public park and was built at the end of the 19th century. It is a space widely used for all kinds of recreational and cultural activities. It has more than one hundred plant species, with many hundred-year-old trees and interesting sculptures.

Full of hundred-year-old trees, the Ciutadella Park contains a great diversity of elements: the monumental waterfall, 19th-century buildings now converted into museums, a lake for rowing boats, walks and numerous sculptures. Share space with the zoo.

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The Barceloneta Tour

We continue with our tours in Spanish and we tour Barcelona by Bike.

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Until the middle of the 18th century, La Barceloneta was a practically uninhabited area. In 1754 fishermen began to settle in this area of the city due to its proximity to the sea.

Despite having acquired a more modern look, currently La Barceloneta still retains its special charm. Its narrow streets and facades darkened by the salt of the sea have made this area one of the most appreciated in Barcelona, a place with a quiet, maritime and family atmosphere that remains foreign to the big city.

One of the main attractions of the neighborhood are its beaches, the largest, best known and busiest in the city. They have a great atmosphere and excellent services.

If you want to know more about our tours you can stop by our place
Born Bike Tours Barcelona
📍Carrer de la Marquesa Nº 1 08003 Barcelona
At 50 meters Barceloneta metro station L (4) yellow
✉️info@bornbikebarcelona.com
🔹www.bornbikebarcelona.com
📲 (+34) 93 319 00 20

Bicycle repairs and rental in Barcelona

Barcelona is one of the most beautiful cities to travel by bicycle with more than 200 kilometers of bike lanes, where you can enjoy a walk along the Mediterranean coast, through the Gothic streets or enjoy a day on the Collserolla mountain.

If you are still in doubt about repairing that old bicycle, or renting one to enjoy Barcelona on wheels, we leave you five tips that will help you make that decision.

Enjoy a safer ride

The bicycle is a safe vehicle, you will walk through the city of Barcelona enjoying great views and places, using the safety of the bike lanes.

Easier and simpler

Mobility by bicycle is easier than in other means of transport. Did you know that the bike is faster than the car in short and medium urban distances? Through several door-to-door competitions, with the city center as the destination, it has been found that, in general, the bike is the fastest transport. in addition to being faster in short distances, it is ideal to combine with public transport

Be more sustainable and collaborate with the environment

The bicycle is a key factor in reducing the levels of environmental and noise pollution in cities. An, at the same time, it is the most energy efficient means of transport: it uses twelve times less energy than a car, even if it is full, to move a person over a kilometer, and fifty times less than a car occupied by only one person.

To enjoy more space

A cyclist occupies five times less space than a motorist, whether he is stationary or in motion. This data has very profound implications for the well-being of residents, who can enjoy peaceful, calmer, safer and noise-free spaces.

To always be on the move

Going by bike is one of the most beneficial exercises for health, since during the effort large muscle groups are mobilized. Of practiced regularly it can reduce resting heart and breathing rates.

If you want to know about bike rental or repair you can stop by our store Born Bike Tours Barcelona
📍Carrer de la Marquesa Nº 1 08003 Barcelona
50 meters away from the Barceloneta L (4) yellow metro station
✉️info@bornbikebarcelona.com
🔹www.bornbikebarcelona.com
📲(+34) 93 319 00 20

The Cathedral of Barcelona

Cycling through the streets of the Gothic Quarter, we come across the current Barcelona Cathedral, it is Gothic in style, but it was built on the foundations of an early Christian basilica and a later Romanesque Cathedral. The works began on May 1, 1298 and lasted a century and a half.

It was temporarily finished in 1417 with a simple wall, and it was not until the late 19th and early 20th centuries that the façade that we can see today was built.

On the occasion of the Universal Exhibition of Barcelona (1888), the works were resumed thanks to Manuel Girona i Agrafel and his sons, who were the promoters of said reforms, where the competition for the construction of the façade was called in 1882, establishing as a stylistic criterion to follow the Gothic. It was awarded to Josep Oriol Mestres, titular architect of the cathedral since 1855, who was inspired by the plans made in 1408 by Carles Galtés de Ruan.

Sí quieres saber más sobre la catedral de Barcelona, pregunta por nuestros tours y te contaremos todo lo que sabemos de ella.
📍Carrer de la Marquesa Nº 1 08003 Barcelona
A 50 metros estación metro Barceloneta L (4) amarilla
✉️info@bornbikebarcelona.com
🔹www.bornbikebarcelona.com
📲(+34) 93 319 00 20

Spanish village in Barcelona

El Pueblo Español is a museum that offers contemporary art, architecture, crafts and gastronomy. The site is made up of 117 full-scale buildings, which make up a typically Spanish town with its streets, houses, squares, theater, school, restaurants and artisan workshops.

statue of a woman in blue clothes from Pueblo Espanyol, in Barcelona

It was built for the international exhibition that was held in Barcelona in 1929, an idea promoted by Joseo Puig I Cadafalch (Catalan architect) where they created a small town that brought together the main characteristics of all the towns in Spain. They also worked together with Joseo Puig, Francesc Folguera and Ramon Reventós, and the artists Xavier Nogués and Miquel Utrillo, in order to achieve this exhibition, they made various trips through Spain taking photographs, drawings, observing the styles and creating concepts of the different places. 

Today there are various activities, exhibitions or events.

Tourists can visit it by taking their ticket on the website  : www.poble-espanyol.com 

Our recommendation is to rent a bicycle and tour the mountains of Montjuic, where you will find various monuments, museums and historical buildings.

Free museums in Barcelona

Barcelona is a city full of life and culture, the good thing is that we have free museums so that we can all enjoy them, it is only a matter of knowing the hours and days.

image of a blue bike of Born Bike Tours Barcelona in front of the National Museum of Art of Catalunya

Picasso museum

The museum has a collection of 4,249 works by the Malaga painter Pablo Picasso in the multiple media that he addressed, which is the most complete in the world in works of his youth.

You can enter for free every Thursday from 5:00 p.m., the first Sunday of each month and on February 12 (Santa Eulàlia), May 18 (International Museum Day) and September 24 (La Mercè Day)

www.museupicasso.bcn.cat 

Museum of the History of Catalonia

The museum was created in 1996 by the Government of Catalonia, with the idea of narrating the history of Catalonia.

You can see it for free It can be visited for free during the Sant Jordi and Santa Eulalia festivities, the Museum Day, and the days of the Catalan and Mercè days.

 www.mhcat.cat 

Barcelona Center for Contemporary Culture (CCCB)

Located in the Raval, its main theme is the city and urban culture. It bases its success on quality, a certain eclecticism, attention to a wide range of audiences and a singularity in the way it treats things, and its function is to link the academic world with creation and citizenship.

You can visit it for free on Sundays

www.cccb.org 

Catalonia art museum

A must-see in the city with a tour of works of art from the 10th to the 20th century, highlighting above all its collection of Romanesque art, considered one of the most complete in the world.

It can be visited for free on Saturdays from 3 pm, the first Sunday of the month, Museum Day and Catalonia and Mercè Days. 

www.museunacional.cat

Bike Tours in Spain

image of a groupe of people with there bike in front of a building in Madrid, rent a bike

We are passionate about bicycles and luckily we are not the only ones 

That is why we decided to take a tour of Spain to visit different cities by Bicycle And today we arrive in Madrid where the guys from Rent & Roll (www.rentandrollmadrid.com) 

They will take you to know the city with their exclusive tours 

private tour for work agencies or family groups.
For those who want to visit Madrid at night
For those who travel at Christmas time and want to discover the magic of the lights of Madrid

And Surprise for wheel lovers! 

Because you can also rent your bike or go out to explore the city on skates 

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You can find them in
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Get your bike ready and enjoy Barcelona

Get your bike ready and enjoy Barcelona

We really like healthy life and the city, that’s why we look for the perfect combination so that you can enjoy this summer of Barcelona by bike.

We carry out repairs and maintenance
We have answers and accessories
Review hardware and adjustments
Washing and greasing
Punctures and wheel centering

That is why we invite you to give life to that stored bicycle and accompany us to visit La Ronda Verda de Barcelona, a circuit that has about 72 kilometers of route and crosses different municipalities such as L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Esplugues de Llobregat, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Montcada I Reixac, Santa Coloma de Gramenet and Sant Adrià de Besòs. There is also a variant that extends the round and incorporates the city of Badalona.

This route can be divided into six sections

Collserola Park: The Collserola Park extends over 8,000 hectares. Forest areas with a great variety of plant formations of valuable biological diversity predominate.
Parque Fluvial del Besòs: This section of the Ronda Verda connects the Parque de Collserola and the Front Marítimo. It has an approximate extension of five kilometers.
Park of the Cordillera de Marina: This natural space is part of the Cordillera Litoral and has a total area of 2,086 hectares. The visitor has the opportunity to envoy Iberian villages, hermitages, monasteries and numerous fountains and recreation areas.
Maritime Front: The Ronda Verda runs along the maritime fronts of Barcelona, Sant Adrià de Besòs and Badalona.
Montjuïc Section: The itinerary in this section of the pool is numerous museums, sports facilities, parks and gardens. The tour has splendid views of the city of Barcelona and its surroundings.
Llobregat Route: This route approaches the Llobregat basin, allowing connections with the river glare, the delta area and the Collserola Park.

The best views of Barcelona

Today we are going to talk about some of the best views of Barcelona

A route that you can take by bike or walking

It is going up the castle of Montjuic (Mount of the Jews)

For all those fans of adventure I recommend that you do not miss this wonderful trip

You can stop by our stores and rent a bicycle or start from the Montjuic fountain.

Along the way you can visit the Montjuic castle where the National Museum of Art of Catalonia is located, the botanical garden, the Spanish town, the Olympic stadium or go up on the cable car that will take you even higher so that you can appreciate the entire city and a Privileged view towards the port area of Barcelona.

view of barcelona port, buildings, boats

One of the things we like the most is being able to appreciate the city, the buildings, the set of streets and monuments from the top.

El Mirador del Alcalde, is one of those places where we can appreciate all the beauty of the city, it is located on the Montjuic mountain, between one of the cable car stops and the castle, you can find there large green spaces to rest, admire the view of the city from one of the viewpoints and hear the noise of the water falling from a waterfall-shaped fountain.

Don’t miss the best views of Barcelona and to know more about this city remember to visit our blog.

A bicycle, a companion

We cheer you to take out that stored bicycle and rediscover the city on wheels, with its more than 200km of bicycle lanes to safely enjoy your ride.

Barcelona is an incredible city for cycling, walking the streets of Barceloneta, getting closer to the Parc de la Ciutadella, walking the wide streets of the Eixample such as Paseo de Gracia or visiting the neighborhoods and meeting friends.

That is why in Born Bike Tours Barcelona we carry out bicycle repairs so that you can enjoy a summer full of adventure, do sports or simply visit Barcelona.

We do review and maintenance so you can go for a walk without worries

Wash and grease so your bike is always ready

We repair punctures and also perform wheel centering

SURPRISE!

Because we are very anxious we give you a preview of our next blog post and we show you some of the routes you can do by bicycle.

From the Barcelona coast to Badalona.

It is a route of approximately ten kilometers, where you can see the entire seafront of the city, very easy to navigate since the entire itinerary is flat and you can surely enjoy incredible views. Starting near the Colón monument, passing by the Wy Hotel through the Forum area where you will find the “Diagonal Mar” shopping center and we will continue passing through the coastline until we reach Badalona.

It is an ideal route to do in the afternoon and end up enjoying the colors of the sunset next to the Mediterranean.

Bicycle Routes

We won the TripAdvisor Travelers of the Year award and we don’t want to stop posting cool things about Barcelona.

That is why we decided to create different routes so that you can go cycling.

bike, born bike tours barcelona, blue bikes, six bike, barcelona, Spain

The Mountain of Montjuic

The Montjuic mountain (name attributed to the Montjuich etymology ”Mount of the Jews”) being a fortress, created as a strategic place to defend the city, where in 1751 the current castle was built, the work of Juan Martín Cermeño, who during the war of the Spanish Independence it was occupied by the French.

Nowadays and thanks to the 1992 Olympic games we can find around it the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium (next to which is the Fundació Barcelona Olímpica Museum).

Walking down Lleida street, you will find the old Palacio de los Deportes, now converted into the Barcelona Teatre Musical. You can also walk through various places of tourist interest such as the Pueblo Español, an enclosure built for the 1929 exhibition and which includes streets, squares and characteristic places from all over Spain, the Montjuic Telecommunications Tower designed by Santiago Calatrava. The Joan Brossa Gardens or the magic fountain of Montjuic that offers a night light show.

Collserola

You will find the great natural treasure in the ”Collserola Natural Park”, with more than eight thousand hectares of surface, where you can enjoy a bike ride through the mountains, one of the main routes is called “La carretera de las Aigües” where it begins on the Pla del Maduixers route (accessed from Avenida del Tibidabo) and ends in Plaza de Mireia. It is a path of low difficulty, since it is mostly flat, and it is where you can get to know one of the best views of Barcelona and the Mediterranean Sea.

The good thing about this tour is that it is suitable for all bicycles and you will be able to visit emblematic buildings such as the Collserola tower and the Fabra observatory.

Greenway of Llobregat

Greenway of Llobregat  is the old route of the Manresa-Olván railway. It runs through a natural environment shaped by the passage of the Llobregat river. It is a route suitable for families and children due to its flatness and ease of travel, on it you can pedal along the Llobregat river, crossing tunnels and visiting the Gothic bridge or the Pedret Monastery.

On this road you will find both vehicles, people walking or cyclists, since it is a route suitable for all kinds of walks and at the end you will cross the Llobregat river through a small bridge until you reach the Baells reservoir dam.

You can find the face of Barcelona a few steps from our local Born Bike Tours Barcelona, From the metro station Barceloneta L (4) amarilla🚇
Visit our web www.bornbikebarcelona.com
Or write to info@bornbikebarcelona.com
📍Born Bike Tours Barcelona find us Carrer de la Marquesa Nº 1 08003 Barcelona A 50 Mts.

The Barcelona’s Head

The Barcelona’s Head is a sculpture created by the American artist Roy Lichtenstein and made by the sculptor Diego Delgado Rajado, a very visible monument for its fifteen meters high and six meters wide, being a clear tribute to the modernist architect Antoni Gaudí with its colors striking and its coverage of mosaics.

lacarabarcelona, Barcelona's head, elcapdebarcelona, bicicletabornbiketoursbarcelona

It is located on Paseo Colón, near the post and telegraph building. It was created in 1991 and 1992, at that time the city of Barcelona suffered many urban changes due to the 1992 Olympic games, decorating one end of Port Vell, an area that was remodeled and where artistic pieces such as the sculpture el pez de oro (the golden fish) were created Designed by Canadian Frank Gehry, la estrella herida  (Horn’s Wounded Star) designed by  Rebecca or the matches by Claes Oldenburg.

We have more things to tell you about The Barcelona´s Head  and other secrets of the city, so don’t miss our bike tours.

Ready for the Great Winter Fiesta in Barcelona?

February 7th, 2019

From the 8^th to the 12^th of February, one of the greatest fiesta of the city will be celebrated: Santa Eulàlia.

Photo by freestocks.org in Pexels.com

Castellers, correfocs, giants, sardanes, bastoners, concerts… and every kind od activities for elder and young people during the saint and the daughter of the city fiesta: Santa Eulàlia. You can consult all the activities in the official program clicking here.

The Great Winter Fiesta of the city is the perfect opportunity to get to know a great part of the popular culture and tradition of Barcelona, together with all the local people who make it possible.

In addition, most of the activities are going to be celebrated through the old and magic central streets of Barcelona: in Ciutat Vella and the Gótic -where, we can assure you, it is better to circulate by bicycle than by car or motorbike-.

As we always say, the fiestas are the best option to get to know the popular culture of a city. So, you shouldn’t miss that one!

Experience the culture and the tradition of Barcelona while you are pedaling through La Mercè 2018 festivity

September 20th, 2018

Photo by Feradz

From the 21st to the 24th of September, you have a very important date with Barcelona, in order to enjoy the cultural activities that the city has prepared only for you -well, and for other miles of people too-.

As we always say, the best way to get to know a city is introducing yourself in its festivities, because popular celebrations are the best show of the local’s environment, their culture, their tradition and their gastronomy. In Barcelona, the most remarked festivity -because each neighbourhood has each own festivities- is La Mercè celebration. And this year it will be celebrated from the 21st to the 24th of September.

From expositions, “cercaviles”, castellers, giants, sardanes to the night concerts and light shows.

You should be fit riding the bicycle, if you want to arrive at everything!

Take a look to the daily activities programming in https://www.barcelona.cat/lamerce/en and take the most advantage of this celebration. You only can enjoy it once a year.

The Great Fiestas time is here, the best way to enjoy Barcelona

August 16th, 2018

If this summer you are ridding a bicycle though the streets of Barcelona, you shouldn’t miss to get to the Great Fiestas, the best show of culture and tradition in the city.

During summer, Barcelona doesn’t stop, on the contrary, that’s really strange to find a week without any Great Fiesta. Next, a brief calendar with which you can check if your trip to Barcelona coincides with a neighborhood’s festivity.

Festes de Sant Roc from the 14th-18th of August.

Festes de Gràcia from the 15th-21st of August.

Festes de Sants from the 20th-28th of August.

Festa Major de la Bordeta from the 28th of August to the 15th of September.

Festes de Vallcarca coincides with the first two weeks of September.

Festa Major del Farró from the 7th-11th of September.

Festa Major de la Barceloneta, coinciding with the Sant Miquel festivity, around the 29th of September.

Festes de la Mercè from the 21st to the 24th of September.

Try to confirm this calendar in the City Hall web site, when the date comes closer. Some variations could be possible.

And, above all, enjoy this amazing fiestas!

Integrate yourself in Barcelona by bicycle

June 14th, 2018

One of the best ways to grade our trip experience is through the integration level. In order to reach the maximum grade in Barcelona -or anywhere- we suggest you to take a map of the bike lane and to get fit with your bicycle, the best means of transport to enjoy the city at street level.

Photography by Alejandro Lopez

June smells summer and, with the arriving of summer, we cannot avoid to start to think about our well-deserved holidays. For this reason, today we want to remember some ideas that we have set out in the blog, because we think that they are very important for achieving the best experience in Barcelona.

Bring us close tot the city people through their culture, their history and their social habits is a basic thing and, for achieving this, to move us at street level is very important, in order to don’t miss any detail.

When we know exactly our means of transport, the next more important thing is the destination. And for this part of the planning is very important to get informed before to leap to our trip. Be informed about the greatest monuments, to explore some more specialized corners and, above all, try to coincide with some popular celebration.

If you achieve getting into the plane, bus or train – whatever it is the means of transport that you use to come to Barcelona- knowing all the lessons, your trip will be incomparable. If you don’t have enough time for that, keep calm, the city is full of services where we can help you sharing all our knowledge.

Spring activities in Barcelona for going by bicycle

April 18th, 2018

This weekend, the 21^st and 22^nd of April in Barcelona, you shouldn’t miss the great Earth Fair, which is celebrated at the Parc Central de Nou Barris.

Photo by Fran Priestley

In Barcelona, the Earth Day is celebrated with a great street market with handmade, ecological and proximity products and that intends to report the bad behavior of our society with regard to nature.

A nice initiative, isn’t it?

Join it doing something good for environment, such as going to the great street market by the cleanest means of transport: the bicycle. In this way, you will add some more pedaling to the 30 days of biking, which are still active this month of April in Barcelona.

And, if after walking through this street market, you are still interested in something more, on Monday, the 23^rd of April, Barcelona will be full of books and roses in order to celebrate the Sant Jordi’s tradition. Again, we insist that you don’t leave your bike at home. With the bicycle you will be able to move around in a comfortable way and you will avoid streets closed to traffic and the mass of people.

Barcelona doesn’t stop, keep its rhythm pedaling!

Come to the Pi’s Fiesta in Barcelona by bicycle

March 14th, 2018

Photo by Rang Oza

We never stop in Barcelona. This weekend the Pi’s Fiesta, also called Sant Josep Oriol’s fiesta, are going to start. We offer you some information in order to whet your appetite…

This Saturday, the 17^th of March, the starting stroke, in this case, to the popular Pi’s Fiesta will take place at the center of Barcelona with a proclamation, sardanes -the traditional Catalan dance- and the popular four original Pi’s Giants dance. You shouldn’t miss that since it is only repeated once a year. Although the celebration beginning will not stop here. During the afternoon it will continue with the castellers and the theatre. And on Sunday, you shouldn’t miss the “Bestieses” event, a very original dance.

This fiesta is celebrated every year around the 23^rd of March, with the arrival of the Spring. For this reason, the 22^nd, 23^rd, 24^th and 25^th of March are going to be days full of activities for every one and for every age.

The fiesta is a tribute to Sant Josep Oriol, who was born and who lived in the district of Ciutat Vella of Barcelona, during the second half of the XVII century.

If you want to get to know things about this saint, his popular celebration and its traditions, don’t doubt about coming by bicycle and experiencing that personally.

The future of Christmas is already present in Barcelona

20 de desembre de 2017

The end of the year is closer and with that our reflections about Christmas in Barcelona, pedaling our bicycles, increase.

You can contact with the Three Wise Man by email. Girls can order race cars and boys can order kids’ play kitchens. An original present is the one which is related to sustainability, education… There are a lot of examples about what we can find nowadays at Christmas, which shows that we are making progresses for a more equal and sustainable future.

In Barcelona, we are maintaining the tradition, but we also make aware about that, because this is not based on consumerism nor discrimination. So, in order to don’t miss this tradition, it is important to maintain the basic values, either at Christmas, at Carnival or Halloween.

So, we couldn’t avoid to do that, we have related a good Christmas with a bicycle.

The bicycle is for everyone, without regard gender or economic level, because we can find it with a very affordable price. It can be adapted to any situation easily. It is completely sustainable, it doesn’t contaminate or waste. And the energy that moves it is ourselves.

If you are agreed with these values, make the exercise of comparing your Christmas with your bicycle, what else do you want for your celebrations?

The best great fiesta of summer is comming, the great fiesta of Gràcia

August 8th, 2017

If you like getting to know the popular culture of the places where you travel, you shouldn’t miss the opportunity of enjoying the great fiesta of the district of Gràcia, which will be celebrated from the 15^th to the 21^st of August.

Every year we dedicate a mail about this very special fiesta and this year we cannot fail because it is going to celebrate its 200 anniversary and nobody looks better at this age. Although, the fiesta starts some days away, you can see some neighbors preparing the details which will dress the streets of different themes for the annual competition. You can feel the festivity in the ambient.

If you are in Barcelona from the 15^th to the 21^st you shouldn’t miss the activities which will be celebrated during the day nor the concerts of the night. You will enjoy the popular culture very near: sardanes, castellers, giants…

For sure, you will find all the streets closed to the traffic, so the best you can do is get there by bike, you will arrive more away and you will not find problems to park 😉.

If you are not here during these dates, don’t worry, you will have another opportunity the next week with the great fiesta of Sants.

Do you already have the Sant Jordi’s book and rose? Get close to the culture by bike, pedaling through the streets of Barcelona

April 19th, 2017

This Sunday, 23^rd of April, Barcelona is going to relive the Sant Jordi’s legend with hundreds of books, roses and activities distributed through the whole city.

Bookshops, florists and, also, all kinds of entities are going to take the stands out to the streets this 23^rd of April, adorning the sidewalks of Barcelona with their decorated roses and the best sellers of the year. So, if you are nearby, you won’t be able to resist the temptation of stopping there and buying some of the literary wonders which are hidden among the piles of books, and you will leave taking away roses for all your loved ones.

On the other hand, remember that the Sant Jordi’s tradition has progressed. Now, it isn’t a rose for the lady and a book for the gentleman. Luckily, these differences have been left behind, but not the spirit. Culture and beauty are now joined together, in order to create one of the best presents of the year among the people who really want to participate.

If you want to enjoy this day 100%, you also need to leave the car behind. The streets of the center in Barcelona, with a complex access for motor vehicles, are going to be fuller of people this day. Our tip? Take a bike and also enjoy the pedaling to the center.

Bike tours through the popular fiestas in Barcelona

March 14th, 2017

From the 16^th to the 26^th of March, the fiesta of Sant Josep Oriol will be celebrated in the center of Barcelona. Catalan tradition and culture.

Photo by Chris Lawton

This week, the streets around the Basílica de Santa Maria del Pi are preparing themselves to celebrate the famous Father’s Day, a fiesta which is going to be concentrated between the 18^th and the 23^rd of March.

Giants, grallers, cercavida, popular music and a lot of activities offer the opportunity of enjoying this great fiesta of the Barri del Pi in Barcelona as an authentic local. Couples, young and elderly people, families… everybody can find the most suitable activity and enjoy them with everybody.

Again, remember that the streets of the center, in addition to be closed to the motor vehicles, are narrow streets due to their historic structure. So, the best means of transport for these days is the bicycle, with which you will be able to move around with complete freedom, going to places very fast and avoiding yourselves the parking problems.

Enjoy the fiestas of Sant Josep Oriol with the people from Barcelona!

Barcelona is going to be dressed up by the Carnival this week

February 21st, 2017

From the 23^rd of February to the 1^st of March, this fiesta of the popular culture is going to be present in the city, with a great number of performances and activities for all ages.

Carnival is a great date for going to visit other cities, because it is a fiesta which is enjoyed and, at the same time organized, by a lot of entities of the local society. A fact that turns that into a unique piece of popular culture.

From costumes, your Most Gracious Highness the King of the Carnival, to the Catalan sausage -made with egg, which is typical of the “fatty Thursday”, because gastronomy also enjoys this fiesta. All in all, it’s a combination that you will not be able to resist.

Take your bike and take a ride through the different activities of the neighborhoods. Go into the markets and taste the diverse varieties of the Catalan sausages. And, specially, go to one of the two great events of this Thursday: at 6 p.m. at the Palau de la Virreina, the Seven Ambassadors. At the same time, at the Plaça Sant Jaume, the arrival of the King of the Carnival with animation will take place.

Take your bike and pedal through the dressed-up streets of Barcelona!

Why you should visit Barcelona by bike this weekend? Because it is going to celebrate Santa Eulàlia’s fiesta

February 7th, 2017

Photo by José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro (CC BY-SA 3.0)

This Friday, the narrow streets of the city center are going to be full of life with the co-patron of Barcelona, Santa Eulàlia. This is the second great fiesta of Barcelona and it will light up its streets in the middle of the winter.

If you are thinking about visiting Barcelona, again, it brings you a great opportunity during this weekend. With Santa Eulalia’s fiesta, from kids to the most elderly will find activities which are adapted to them and which are spread out in the city center.

Giants, cabezudos, colles de castellers, sardanes, correfoc… a little of everything to taste Catalan culture in its entirety.

All the information and the map of the activities are in the event web page. You can visit that clicking here.

Now, of course, although it is not emphasized in the web, we advise you to go to the fiesta with the best means of transport: the bicycle. The streets in the center of Barcelona are very beautiful and full of history, but, they are also very narrow. Forget the car or the motorbike for going to the activities, they will only cause you a headache, especially if you want to park close by.

As we always say, fiestas are the best way to get to know the popular culture of a city; so, you shouldn’t miss that!

Pedaling through the activities in Barcelona during this weekend with the fiesta of Sant Antoni

January 24th, 2017

On the evening of this Saturday, the 28^th of January, you will have work if you want to celebrate this fiesta of Sant Antoni with the best traditions.

On one hand, the streets of the lovely neighborhood of Gràcia will be full of life with this Majorcan fiesta: els Foguerons, which is reaching the 25 years of celebration in Barcelona. A tradition which comes directly from Sa Pobla and gathers its community with the people of this neighborhood around a bonfire.

Don’t arrive late. Music, gastronomy and dancing will start at 9.30 p.m.

On the other hand -and unfortunately, at a very similar hour-, the neighborhood of Clot will celebrate Sant Antoni too.

In this case, the theme will be focused on a very special pork: the capgròs del Pork del Clot, a large-figure of the head of a Pork- This fiesta, which has been celebrated during the last 3 years, doesn’t leave you hungry. Its main course? A degustation of delicious tapas -appetizers-, every one of them prepared, obviously, with pork meat.

This fiesta starts at 6 p.m. and finishes at 10 p.m. -and it only costs 5€-, so, if you are still hungry, at 9 p.m. you can go directly to Gràcia. The communication between these two neighborhoods is very simple. Go to Plaça de les Glòries, start to pedal there through Avinguda Diagonal until you arrive at Passeig Sant Joan, and there burn some fat with its ascent for arriving at Gràcia. All this journey is connected by a comfortable and safe bike line.

If you are going to travel during Christmas, remember some of the main points of ecotourism

December 12th, 2016

During Christmas, there are a lot of people that bet on knowing these dates from other cultural perspectives. For achieving this purpose, it’s essential to keep some main points in mind in order to leave a positive mark at the place

Minimize the negative impacts on the environment and on the community

Get a bicycle and enjoy the city from the best perspective, helping to not increase pollution and noise.

Respect the environment and the culture

With your bicycle, you will be able to enjoy a lot of places at a street level, something essential for experiencing the culture of a country. If you have never been there, you should look for some information about its traditions in order to avoid slip-ups.

Positive experiences for visitors and hosts

If you are respectful with the environment and culture, you will achieve a better atmosphere with the local people. If the people of a country are happy with you, you will achieve a unique experience and, what are we looking for when we travel, if it’s not this?

Direct financial benefits for the local people

Being Christmas, probably, you will not be able to avoid buying some souvenirs. Try to keep away from the big chain stores, which you can find everywhere. The local commerce is unique. In this way, you will be able to buy the most original presents.

Enjoy your trips during Christmas or during any other time of the year following these basic tips.

The International Cyclist Cinema Festival of Barcelona is nearing

October 4th, 2016

The 6^th, 7^th, 8^th and 9^th of this month of October, at the Texas Cinema in Barcelona (Bailén street, 205), Rueda, an international film festival that revolves around bikes, will take place.

If you are a lover of this two wheel vehicle, you shouldn’t miss this ode to the bicycle, with which you will enjoy films, short films and other activities which will be celebrated in the city during these dates.

For these four days, the Texas Cinema has prepared a selection of 10 films and 15 short films. In addition to the projection of the Rueda Kids, during Sunday morning, there will be a selection of short films for the smallest ones of our homes, in order for them to “start to dream with cyclist adventures”.

But not only the cinema will be the meeting point during this event. The Nautical Base at the Playa de la Marbella in Barcelona will be another place with a lot of different activities such as cycling races bike polo and street markets.

We are sure that you will not be able to find a better excuse for leaving home to go pedaling this weekend.

‘La Mercè’, the great fiesta in Barcelona, is coming

September 20th, 2016

Tradition, culture, music, gastronomy… everything you want to know about Barcelona is summed up from the 22^nd to the 25^th of September.

Photo by: Feradz

One more year, Barcelona will celebrate its great fiesta, La Mercè, which, this year, is going to be celebrated from the 22^nd to the 25^th of September. And we will never get tired of repeating that: if you really want to experience the city the same as an authentic local person, a celebration like this one is the best opportunity for achieving this. So, if you are visiting Barcelona this days, you shouldn’t miss this.

During the day, you will enjoy all the activities that you can imagine for all the family in the streets of the city. During the night, you will have the best local and international music concerts. A lot of people are going to come these days in order to enjoy and keep this amazing fiesta alive, are you going to be one of them?

Remember, the 22^nd is going to be celebrated as the Day Without Cars in Barcelona and the bicycle will take over all the importance in this city, maintaining it clean of fumes during this first day of the festivity.

Are you going to come with us to pedal during the fiestas?

Experience Barcelona from one celebration to another

July 18th, 2016

As we always say from BornBike, there isn’t a better way to enjoy the city than introducing yourself directly into the traditions and the culture, and, where is a major concentration of these two ingredients? In the festivities. Summer is the season of the different celebrations in the neighborhoods of Barcelona per excellence.

Photo by: Feradz

The 16^th of July the Festa Major of Poble Sec, in the district of Sants-Montjuïc, was inaugurated, but if you haven’t had time to enjoy the activities, you have the opportunity to do it until the 24^th of this month of July. Coinciding with these dates, the Clota’s fiesta is also going to be celebrated, in the district of Horta-Guinardó, a place a bit further away from the center of the city.

From the 22^nd to the 16^th of August, Sant Roc, the Festa Major of the Gótic neighborhood in Ciutat Vella, is the most ancient celebration of Barcelona with more than four centuries of history. You can find it easily, because it is centered mainly in the Nova square.

And we love the Gracia fiesta, this year it will be celebrated from the 15^th to the 21^st of August. We love it for its activities, but, especially, because of its neighbors making works of art in every one of its streets. Although, if you want to avoid masses of people, the best for you is to wait for the Sants celebration, from the 20^th to the 28^th of August, it also is a great example of a good team work between neighbors.

If you are the kind of people who prefer to travel during September, you also have the opportunity to enjoy the celebrations of Vallcarca, Horta, Poblenou and the great fiesta per excellence: La Mercè.

Dances around a bonfire and quick nightly swims on the ‘Sant Joan’ night in Barcelona

June 23rd, 2016

One more year, we have the opportunity of celebrating this tradition during the shortest night of the year.

At BornBike, we love summer: riding our bicycle through the city, through its green zones and through its beaches. So, we couldn’t miss its welcome.

Photo by Tamorlan

From the tour of the flame which never extinguishes, the Canigo’s flame; making a pause for dinner and the “coca de llardons” (a sort of flatbread with pork rind) which we love eating with chocolate; to enjoying dancing around a bonfire with the rhythm of a live concert. And, if it is possible, we should do all of this close to the beach so that we can take a swim which will dispel the bad spirits and refresh us before the coming warm months.

It sounds good, doesn’t it?

And the best thing is that this traditional celebration, as almost all of them, comes with some stories of our culture.

Do you want to get to know them? Don’t miss it. We, if you wish so, can accompany you by bicycle, of course.

Getting to know the Catalan culture, dancing ‘Sardanes’

June 14th, 2016

From the 15^th of June to the 3^rd of July, every Friday (except the 24^th of June) you can enjoy one of the most typical things of the Catalan Culture: Sardanes, with the people dancing to the rhythm of the ‘Les Cobles Rambles” and ‘Baix Llobregat’.

As we always say, one of the best things for getting to know a country’s culture is introducing ourselves in its history, its traditions and its festivities, because we will be able to talk easily with its people and we will feel like a citizen more of this land. So, following this premise, you should not miss the opportunity of experiencing the Sardanes’ dance and music.

sardana-1313942 This is a tradition with an unknown origin, danced and played around all Catalonia (it is its national dance) and, practically everyone who wants to dance it, can try it. Your age doesn’t matter, it is for elder and young people.

So if you would like to know more about it, you should take your bicycle and go to Vapor Vell Passage (number 2) in the district of Sants-Monjuïc any Friday (remember: there are no events on the 24^th of June) from now to the 3^rd of July at 7.30 p.m.

Enjoy it!

The markets of Barcelona, gastronomic culture and tradition

May 23th , 2016

Last days for “Love your market” in the International Week of Markets, which has been held since the 15^th of May and which is going to finish next Thursday, the 31^st.

Under the motto “Choose the market, choose health”, from the 15^th, the 3^rd edition of this initiative, the International Week of Markets, has been held and which has been joined by municipal markets of Barcelona and other ones of the province.

As we have insisted in other blog entrances, a perfect way to get to know Barcelona in a gastronomic manner and to go to shopping is visiting the incredible markets of Barcelona, which, at the same time, are architectonic jewels. But, these days, in addition, we have the incentive of the activities which are being held in these places for everyone in the family: workshops, talks, gourmet samplings and gastronomic competitions.

All of these activities pretend to foment the promotion of responsible, safe and healthy nutrition. At the same time, they also aim to promote the market products, fresh and high-quality products.

If you are from Barcelona or you are spending some days here, you don’t have any excuse not to take your bicycle and come to take a stroll through one of these city markets.

Live music in ‘The spring in the neighborhoods’ in Barcelona

Photo by Oscar Keys

May 16th, 2016

A musical initiative from Barcelona city to energize the cultural life in some of its districts which has been celebrated from the 5^th to the 26^thof May, each Thursday of the month.

In the second edition of this festival: “The Spring in the neighborhoods” 12 concerts have been prepared along the different districts of the city, emphasizing some of them, where don’t usually have a lot of this kind of activities, such as Marina de Port, Parc and Llacuna of Poblenou or the Turo de la Peira.

These concerts are in the line of the Primavera Sound Festival (which will be held from the 1^st to the 5^th of June in Barcelona) and they are an introduction for the new musical groups of the city. In resume, a perfect opportunity to get to know the city in a musical way.

The performances are free and they start at 7.30 p.m. every Thursday in different municipal centers, such as youth or civic centers.

If you haven’t attended any one yet, you will have the opportunity to do this Thursday the 16^th of May at 7.30 p.m in the Parc Sandaru (a civic center in Poble Nou) or the next and the last one (Thursday the 26^th) in the Tomasa Cuevas (youth center of Les Corts).

Don’t miss them!

Historical & Modernist Tour

This tour is perfect for art and architecture lovers. Wander through the alleys, secrets, and legends of the ancient and medieval Barcelona … and end up exploring the most emblematic works of the Modernism movement.

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Beach bike tour

A cultural and fun experience right by the sea! Enjoy the amazing sights from the coastline. You will discover the history, present and past of the harbor as well as the charm of its typical neighborhoods (La Barceloneta-Poblenou-Port Olimpic).

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Montjuïc : Magic & Art

You will discover the palaces from the international Exhibition of 1929, its Magic Fountain, the Olympic Stadium (Olympic games) and much more… Enjoy a relaxing ride to Montjuïc, offering wonderful views of the whole city.

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Tapas tour

Delight your senses discovering the medieval Barcelona and the charm of the Born district. Loose yourself in the Gothic Quarter with its narrow streets, become familiar with our typical dishes and taste the “Tapas”.

Read more about our Bike Tours