The Catalonian capital of Barcelona, Spain is one of the major cultural and economic hubs in Europe. The bustling metropolis is replete with historical sights and landmarks keeping tourists busy for days.
One of the most famous locations belongs to the Montjuïc – a wide, shallow hill providing a panoramic vista of the city and the sea.
The top of the hill is the home to Castle Montjuïc – a fortress that dates back the 17th century. Montjuïc is also the site to the Palau Nationale, built for the 1929 Expo as well as the host of several venues for 1992 Olympic Games.
The Telefèric de Montjuïc is a publically funded, cable propelled transit system that links the city to the top of the Montjuïc by climbing 84.5 meters on a 750-meter run lasting for approximately 8 minutes. The system is operated by Transport Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB), however, a separate fare must be purchased as the system is not integrated within the Autoritat del Transport Metropolia (ATM).
The cable car was built in 1970 but was upgraded in 2007 to increase capacity. The Leitner built MDG (monocable detachable gondola) system has three stations. Starting at the Parc de Montjuïc, the gondola glides over the Jardins de Mossen Cinto Veraguer up to the Mirador.
At Mirador station – which interestingly means sea-view – the gondola makes a 90-degree turn. The gondola then further ascends another several hundred meters until it reaches Montjuïc Castle at the top of the hill.
System Statistics
| Length (km) | 0.752 |
| Stations | 3 |
| Year Opened | 2007 (refurbished) |
| Line Capacity | 1,495 |
| Fare | €8 |
| Ridership (annual) | 1.3 million |
| Maximum speed (m/s) | 5 |
Image credits: CC BY-SA 4.0, by Mariordo (Mario Roberto Duran Ortiz)