Trapped inside Gotham City… er… uh… Barcelona and unable to get your bat-fix in a more natural climbing environment? Well, here is a not-complete summary of some places to climb within the city itself, all of which are accessible with public transportation and just a bit of walking.

A caveat: The outdoor locales often change as routes or locations are taken down, built up, modified, etc…. or graffiti artists spray more paint on the holds. So, caveat emptor.

 

First, the outdoor venues….

 

(Then…. scroll way down for the indoor gyms in Barcelona and the surrounding area, including the new, huge Sharma Gavà gym)

 

Plaça de Botticelli

–This is a below ground level, 360-degree (circular), plaza area between the lanes on Avinguda de l’Estatut de Catalunya.

–Traverses, short sport climbs (10-15m?), all on artificial holds on an open-air cement wall; most climbs face generally west or northwest.

–There is lighting, so evening climbing is possible.

–Graffiti painting and repainting on some walls have slickened many holds. Really sort of a novelty area to spend an hour or two.

–Get there: Take the Metro, Green Line 3 to Mundet. The Horta stop on Blue Line 5 is also fairly close. For map directions, Google Plaça de Botticelli, Barcelona.

My own photos follow, but check out the Boulder in BCN Blog for more, as well as a few route ratings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plaça de Lluis Casassas

–This wall along the edge of a small plaza faces south-southeast. Nice in winter, but you will boil there on a summer day.

–A bouldering traverse on a slightly overhanging, open-air, mosaic-tiled wall on artificial holds (plastic, wood, fiberglass, and real rock). Maybe worth an hour or two of your time… or a few hours with a sandwich and some hanging out (city views!)

–There are a couple of glue-ins on the tiled wall that could be used for showing someone how to clean a sport anchor.

–On the right side, there is an additional vertical (not overhanging) slightly lower rock wall with glued-on [actual] rock holds that is maybe a bit easier.

–With the city light glow, night climbing is possible.

–Get there: Take the Metro, Green Line 3 to Canyelles. For map directions, Google Plaça de Lluis Casassas, Barcelona.

A few photos:

 

 

 

 

Plaça de Salvador Puig Antich, “El Campillo”

–This 40-foot bolted cement wall with artificial holds (some look quite home-brewed) is on the side of a parking garage.

–Faces west, so best in the morning in summer, and in the afternoon on winter days.

–You’ll find seven or eight routes on the main wall (5.7-5.9-ish on up), and even harder stuff on the corner and the roof in back. Bring 8-10 quick draws.

–There is lighting in the plaza for possible evening climbing and a small playground for the kiddies.

–Beware! On the roof route in back we found one permadraw that was rusted shut and my buddy had to skip it while on lead. Maybe carry an extra draw on your harness just in case.

–Great city views from the parking garage roof.

–Historical/personal factoid: Puig Antich was one of the last to be executed by the fascist Franco regime. He was indeed involved in “crime” (resistance?), but many believed he didn’t deserve the death penalty (by garrote vil) and that the sentencing was really a political act. My wife was actually good friends with Antich’s sister and went with her to visit him in jail (at La Modelo) while he was held there before the execution. We have visited La Modelo’s mail room where they set up the chair and carried out the execution. Sad and sobering.

–To get there, take the Metro, Green Line 3 to Roquetes, then it’s about a ten-minute walk up the hill. For map directions, Google Plaça Salvador Puig Antich, Barcelona.

Here are some of my own images, but check out also the Boulder In BCN Blog for some route ratings on the main wall as well as a few more photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

La Foixarda Tunnel, Montjuic

–This is the locally famous climbing tunnel not far from the rugby field and the Climbat indoor climbing gym on Montjuic. If you only have time to visit one urban climbing area in Barcelona, this would be it. It is quite the social scene on most any warm winter day, and especially on weekends. In fact, there is almost always someone there at reasonable hours on most days. You might even hook up with a climbing partner here (or not… some folks are kinda sketchy). Bring maybe 8-10 quickdraws.

–Noah Kane put together a nicely edited six-minute YouTube video (2023, I think?) that gives you a good overview:

–Traveling climbers seem to be able to park their vans in this area for a few days at a time. Check with other dirtbaggers to be sure of current parking policy and safety. Heads up: This area is probably not a good van camping choice if a concert is scheduled on Montjuic as I have seen several broken car windows from break-ins the morning after.

–The routes inside the old quarry (across from the rugby field) and on the artificial cement walls of said quarry on the east side of the tunnel have been taken down due to the instability of the rock and are gradually being reclaimed by vegetation. However, on the southwest (warm!) end of the tunnel you’ll still find some easier sport routes on plastic and some rock sections. The harder sport roof routes and the super-popular bouldering traverses on slick artificial holds are inside the tunnel.

–Note the many custom-made, very bizarre holds–a bat, a fried egg, stalactites, etc. They were made by Manuel Sánchez, locally known as Manolo, “El Heavy”. He’s the guy that started the whole thing sometime in the mid 1990s. This summer (2022), he has been adding even more magnificent and humorous sculptured holds along the roof, many related to the COVID epidemic (check out the giant, spiked COVID virus!) and the antics of the Spanish royal family.

–On a busy day, you’ll see all manner of shitshow climbing/clipping/lowering/belays (good place to video bad Grigri belays!), as well as safe and seasoned experts hanging from toe hooks and “bicycles” off of the ceiling.

–To get there, take either bus 150 or 23 from Plaça de Espanya and get off at Plaça Sant Jordi. Walk 50m west and down the stone steps (the traverse stone wall mentioned next will be on your right and left of the steps). Once below and on the pavement, go left and you’ll see the tunnel within about 100-200m. Bus 13 from Plaça de Espanya will actually get you closer, with a stop by the track stadium on Carrer de Polvorí.

–The rock climbing gym Climbat La Foixarda is just 150 meters or so through the tunnel to the east, beside the rugby field. So if you tire of the tunnel, head on over there to complete your day.

A few photos follow… and see also my earlier blog post/photos, Review: La Foixarda Rock Climbing Tunnel, September 19, 2015…

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plaça de Sant Jordi Walls

–And just 200 meters or so north of the Tunnel… Down the steps from Montjuic’s Plaça Sant Jordi, on your right, is a real rock wall (real stone, but built by humans a hundred years ago). This one is fairly moderate as it isn’t quite vertical, but it is ideal for some long endurance fun. I like the idea of having to look for holds on something that resembles actual rock, as opposed to just grabbing the next, obvious plastic hold (like in the above venues). Traversing the full 120 meters or so length out and back will probably give your fingers and calves a bit of a workout. 

–On your left as you go down the steps from Plaça Sant Jordi is a shorter, slightly harder traverse on rock that is a bit grainy–still a worthwhile challenge to go out and back on-sight.

–Faces basically west, so best in the morning on summer days, or afternoon on winter days.

–I have used this wall to simulate trad climbing, placing gear and clipping the rope as I go, trying to be quick and efficient grabbing the right piece off the rack, sometimes limiting the gear to just wires, then setting up a hanging belay at the end. Fun times for COVID times.

–With all the little slots and cracks, you can also practice clean aid here. It’s mostly C1, but you can make it as hard as you want, I suppose… but be wary of crumbly rock around your placements.

–There are numbered holds (if the rain hasn’t washed them away) that indicate bouldering traverse sequences but it is sort of confusing to figure out how they run together. Look for magic marker numbers and different colors: an “I” means izquierda/esquerra or left hand hold, and a “D” means derecha/dreta or right hand hold. Feet are open. 

–This can be kind of a trashy area, so I started carrying a trash bag and one of those trash pincers on each visit. It’s pretty clean now, but someone always drops something over the wall, so pack out what you find. And, unfortunately, watch out for that stray pile o’ human shit from the asshole (literal) who couldn’t wait.

–A few meters farther down the access steps is another wall with some short (and harder) traverses, with suggested sequences indicated. You can even see some old, not-to-be-trusted, rusted bolts higher up from decades gone by.

–Although within a couple hundred yards of the Foixarda Tunnel, this area isn’t particularly popular. [NOTE: During the COVID restrictions in early 2021, I saw folks here every now and then.]

–To get there, take either bus 150 or 23 from Plaça de Espanya and get off at Plaça Sant Jordi. Walk 50m west to the view area and go down the stone steps. Google Plaça de Sant Jordi, Barcelona for a map. The longer wall will be on your right (and left) as you start down the stone staircase and the smaller, more difficult wall, is farther down the steps on your left.

A few photos:

 

 

 

A closer view of the lower wall “in action”!

 

Park Güell Walls

–There are two “buildering” walls on the west side of the park worth considering. Both are made of actual stone.

–The upper wall has the longest and most challenging traverse (maybe 70-90 meters long?) and will give you plenty to work on for at least a few weeks (unless you regularly on-sight 5.12). Most individual moves are in the 5.9-5.11 range, but you get pumped pretty fast and the sequences aren’t always obvious. Be aware that some holds have gotten a bit slick over the years, especially the feet. Left side is easiest.

–This upper wall is located next to the western exit/entrance to Park Güell on the Avinguda del Coll del Portell.

–Below the upper wall, right at the end of the pavement on Passeig de Turull, there is another wall that is much easier and is suitable for beginner/intermediates and for endurance training. There are also some interesting sequences labeled with marker if you want to challenge yourself a bit more. This easier wall could also be used to practice gear and trad anchor placements.

–Both walls face mostly west, so best in the morning during the summer months and mid-day/afternoon during the winter.

–To get there, the easiest approach is probably by Metro to the Vallcarca stop on Green Line 3, then walk uphill via Passeig de Turull. Just above the easier wall on Turull you’ll find the longer/harder wall on Avinguda del Coll del Portell. 

 

A few photos:

 

 

 

 

 

Now, to the pay-to-play indoor gyms, or rocódromos…

 

Chris Sharma, Bouldering Gym (Barcelona, Maresme area)

–You might actually see Chris at some point! I have even seen him get involved with his crew in setting the boulder problems.

–Primarily bouldering here, with a few autobelays (6-10), and a very few lead routes. Plenty to keep you occupied for hours. See their website for details and photos.

–There is a small bar for drinks and snacks, a locker room with showers, and a small workout gym (yoga and fitness) on an upper level.

–This northeast Barcelona gym is an excellent place for bouldering or an autobelay session. It can be packed at peak hours and is a great place to meet fellow climbers from all over the world.

–A major expansion was completed in the summer of 2022 and the gym has now doubled in floor area. I mention this in case you visited before that date. My pictures below (from August, 2024) reflect these changes.

–To get there, the closest Metro stop is Besòs Mar on yellow Line 4. Buses H12 and H14 also get you close. For a map and directions, Google Sharma Climbing BCN.

–Some photos…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Climbat, La Foixarda

–Indoor climbing gym; see their website at Climbat Foixarda for detailed info, upcoming events, and photos.

–You’ll find 10+ autobelays (TRUBLUE), lots of lead routes (including some challenging ones on the big horizontal roof), and very good bouldering areas. There are NO pre-hung top ropes, though, as you might find in many gyms in the States.

–A 35m lead rope is sufficient for the longest routes on the big roof. Bring your own.

–One of the more popular places in Barcelona city itself, great if you are alone (autobelays!) and/or you prefer longer and/or steep/overhanging routes. Spain/Catalunya climbing competitions are occasionally held here. There is also enough easy stuff to keep the kids entertained.

–They have lockers you can rent (maybe 6-8 Euros/month?) so you can leave your gym gear there if you are in Barcelona long term. They also have a dressing room and showers, and a very, very small fitness area on an upper level.

–You can rent harness, helmet, and shoes here, too, as long as your feet aren’t much bigger than a Euro 46.

–You sign a waiver, of course, but there is no official check-out required for lead climbing… and no helmets required, but probably a good idea, and your choice of belay device. If you are coming from the States, the lack of staff supervision over what you do in the gym might surprise you–you are definitely responsible for your actions!

–This is my normal go-to place for indoor climbing. Lots of variety, good route setting (Marc!), and I’ve met a number of climbing partners here.

–They often have classes with school kids and other large groups, so some areas of the gym might be hard to access at these (usually morning) times. But, if you have a partner and a lead rope, you can almost always find plenty of open routes to keep you busy.

—Internet info: They have unreliable public WiFi and the internet/phone connection from the towers can be spotty since you are down in a hole on top of Montjuic. However, I’ve almost always been able to at least text message from here.

–To get there, from Plaça Espanya, take Bus 150 or 23 up toward the Montjuic Castle and get off at Plaça de Sant Jordi. If you take Bus 13, get off by the track stadium on Carrer de Polvorí (near the Foixarda Climbing Tunnel). For a map and directions, Google Climbat La Foixarda.

–Some iPhone snapshots to give you an idea…

 

The entrance area. There are drinks and snacks available, and they sell a few gear items (chalk, shoes, harnesses, a very few ropes, etc.). Note the donuts on the bar–breakfast of champions!

 

Hanging out on the main wall–a common sight. The hardest lead routes are here and a 35m rope will work fine. On that back wall is a very-slightly-over-90-degree-wall with four autobelays. There is also a campus board on which you young folks are welcome to pop your finger pulleys.

 

The bouldering island always has a nice variety of routes of all styles and difficulty levels. Boulder problems are graded by color codes (NOTE: This bouldering island was upgraded in 2024)… it is similar but a bit larger now).

 

Another view of the bouldering island. There is a lead wall to the right (you can just see some of it) with some short 4-bolt routes of all difficulties.

 

The other bouldering area and small cave. Bouldering in Spanish is called “búlder” (BOOL-duhr), or “bloque” (BLOW-kay).

 

This is a view of Climbat La Foixarda’s back room. There is an obstacle/ropes course and a toboggan slide for the kiddie summer camps, a lead wall (slab) to the left and steeper wall with seven autobelays on the right (currently, no leading on the autobelay walls, unless you bring your own draws and the wall is not busy).

 

Here is a better view of the slab lead wall in the back room. Short 4-bolt routes typically ranging from 4+ to 6c, often with some very creative route setting.

 

And a better view of the back room autobelay wall. Since there is usually a concentration of easy routes on the right hand white section, this area is often busy with kids or classes during summer mornings.

 

The upstairs area. Perhaps someday they will have a decent set of weights up here. At least you can do some stretching, yoga, cycling…

 

Another small area that is popular with the kids during the summer camps.

 

I think this little cave was set up for the kids, but I find it a great place to work on steep route endurance… red is easiest, black is harder, green even harder–of course, it all depends on what you allow for your feet!

 

Indoor Wall – El Clot (Magnesi)

[May, 2024 UPDATE: Indoor Wall El Clot no longer have personnel on duty. You pay online, then open the locked door with a QR code sent to your phone. I hate this system, can’t believe there are no liability/safety issues, and figure it is the last gasp before finally closing this gym completely. I no longer go here. I would definitely check the “Indoor Wall” website to get the latest info in case they make any further changes.]

—Carrer de Gabriel i Galán, 3, 08026 Barcelona; Closest Metro station is Clot (L1 Red or L2 Purple)

–We used to know this place as Magnesi. Some still call it that.

—Indoor climbing gym with bouldering, three autobelays (maybe nine routes there?), and lead climbing. Snack bar and food options seem to have moved to the kids-oriented Indoor Wall Family Food which is just a block or so away (see below).

–There are lockers and showers.

–Here, there is a rough half-n-half division between lead climbing (all grades, put tending toward harder stuff) and bouldering. Walls aren’t too tall, so a 35m gym rope should be plenty.

–My iPhone snaps…

 

The entrance…

 

The three TRUBLUE autobelays on the left cover maybe nine different routes of grades around V to 6a/b or so, with the lead wall beyond.

 

The bouldering wall is on the right as you walk in. Problems are color-coded as per the chart you see on the right. I tend to be a Nano/Micro/Milinewton kind o’ guy, according to their standards.

 

The back corner of the lead wall has some steep, hard stuff.

 

The view from the back out toward the entrance.

 

Another view from the back of the bouldering wall.

 

Family Food – El Clot

—Carrer de Valencia, 665, 08026 Barcelona; Closest Metro station is Clot (L1 Red or L2 Purple); This is just a couple of blocks away from Indoor Wall – El Clot. It is sort of hidden in an alley with a moveable security barrier and a human “guard”. Google Maps is your friend.

—Indoor climbing gym with bouldering for the little ones, two kid-style mini-TRUBLUE autobelays, and a restaurant/snack bar. Emphasis is definitely on the kids here, although a parent might also be able to stretch a few muscles while the kids play.

–Some iPhone snaps…

 

Don’t let the urban grunge exterior fool you. The inside is actually newly renovated, bright, and cheery–to stimulate the kiddies.

 

The stylin’ lobby, lounge, and restaurant/snack bar area…

 

Bright colors and big holds for the grand kids–although maybe grandpa can get a little bit of a workout in here and there.

 

 

Indoor Wall – L’Hospitalet de Llobregat

[May, 2024 UPDATE: Indoor Wall L’Hospitalet no longer have personnel on duty. You pay online, then open the locked door with a QR code sent to your phone. I hate this system, can’t believe there are no liability/safety issues, and figure it is the last gasp before finally closing this gym completely. I no longer go here. I would definitely check the “Indoor Wall” website to get the latest info in case they make any further changes.]

—Avinguda Fabregada, 33, 08907 Barcelona; Closest Metro station is L’Hospitalet Av. Carrilet (L1 Red or L5 Dark Blue). If you drive, there is free on-street parking in the area if it isn’t filled up.

–Indoor climbing gym with mostly bouldering, four autobelays (older tech, but they do work), some lead climbing, and kid-suitable routes/areas. Climbs are color-coded for difficulty rather than graded.

–Double check the current operating hours. Their website appeared to show an erroneous pre-pandemic schedule–open in the mornings and on weekends. However, Google currently shows them open only Monday through Friday from 5p.m. to midnight (as of August, 2021).

—This gym has been open since about 2014, but August 2021 was my first visit–I hadn’t really heard of it before. Poor publicity, maybe? Or perhaps I just don’t hang out with the right people.

–If you are staying in the western area of metro Barcelona, near the Hotel Fira, IKEA, etc. then this may be the place for you, but the Sharma gyms (way out northeast in Barcelona, or the one out west in Gavà) are far superior. So, location may determine which gym you choose if you don’t have a lot of commute time on your hands.

–Some iPhone snaps to give you an idea…

 

This gym is in a lovely light industrial area in the L’Hospitalet area of the western metro area, down this sterile alleyway. Yes, Google maps will guide you there just fine.

 

The entrance area. Up those stairs on the left are locker rooms with showers and a large area for yoga/stretching, or riding a stationary bike.

 

The bouldering cave. That cool stalactite takes you up to the roof… if you can get started! There are various traverse combinations taped out on that left wall–or do your own thing.

 

A view toward the back of the gym and the main bouldering island. You can see the two older style autobelays (which worked fine) on the back wall (there are two more near the gym entrance). The main lead wall is just behind the island and there is a campus board just out of sight to the left.

 

Looking at the bouldering island from the back of the gym toward the front. They have opened the garage door for more ventilation on this warm summer afternoon (and for COVID reasons). In this view, you can see the campus board on the right.

 

A look at the main lead wall with its horizontal roof. A 35m rope should be more than sufficient for these routes.

 

9a Poblenou Climbing Rocódromo

–Haven’t visited, but it looks like you could do a lot of traversing here as the walls aren’t very tall. Maybe check it out if you are staying near the area and need a quick fix. See THEIR WEBSITE for pictures, hours, and other details. 

 

And now presenting… the big, new (as of September, 2021), modern Sharma Gym in Gavà!

 

It is finally open (as of September 12, 2021)! This place definitely rivals any big, modern gym you’ll find anywhere in the States, and is one of the bigger ones in Spain. Chris really hit it out of the park with this one–it’s a gem. What an investment of time, energy, worry, and money to get this done during these COVID times. Thanks, Chris!

Some highlights:

–Link to their website in English for the prices, hours, details: Sharma Gavà BCN.

–Located on Carrer Girona, 25 in Gavà, about 20 minutes by train from the Sants Station (your Metro ticket will work, with trains every 20 minutes or so). The gym is an easy five-minute walk from the Gavà station.

–The building is massive–Chris’s website says 5,000 square meters, which is roughly 54,000 square feet!

—Highlights: Huge lead climbing “sanctuary” with some 150 routes of all grades (up to 23m long… so bring your 50m rope), 20+ autobelays (up to 15m), around 18 top ropes (30+ routes?) pre-rigged with Grigris and a massive steel locker for the climber, at least three separate bouldering areas (including one with a massive suspended structure-sculpture object), a kids wall/area, a comp speed wall, a bar/café with both indoor and outdoor seating, yoga room and nice weight/fitness room, lockers/changing rooms with showers, and a small gear shop. It pretty much has it all–except… except cracks! Where are the cracks, Chris!!! ; )

–I haven’t asked, but for lead climbing I think you should be fine with whatever belay device you normally use, although the Grigri is definitely dominant here.

–Expect an employee/climber type to check you out before using the autobelays, the TRs, or leading, after which they give you a tag for your harness. 

–There is plenty here to keep everyone happy, from the 3-year-old grandkid, to the beginner, to the expert, to Aunt Matilda who just wants to sit at the café, sip a beverage of her choice, and surf the interwebs.

–For me, Climbat Foixarda is much closer to where I live and so it will still be my more convenient and sentimental “home gym”, but wow!… I now have a Sharma punch pass and I will be making every effort to get to this one on a few of those gym days.

–Rather than me posting pics, here is a near 9-minute video in which you can see it all as well as test your high school Spanish while you listen to Chris himself explain the project (in excellent Castellano):

 

Monobloc La Sagrera

–Just bouldering, but plenty of it. A nice, clean, modern (and fairly new) gym with a small café and a training area with all the requisite training boards climbers want/need. Also, a small room for yoga/stretching upstairs.

–They have a couple small tripods on the floor you can use for your selfie/hero videos.

–During an August visit, I noticed the air conditioning seemed to work better here than in other gyms, although I still worked up a sweat.

–An easy walk from Metro La Sagrera.

–I like that two of the areas have walls that aren’t super tall and the mats are nice to fall on. These lower walls are sometimes set with imaginative traverses and the route setting is excellent overall.

–Some pics (August, 2024):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bloc District

–Clean and modern. Like Monobloc La Sagrera, just bouldering, but plenty of it, including all the usual boards and spray/kilter walls, pretty decent fitness/gym room, showers, lockers, and a very nice café.

–Frequented by a lot of young international students due to its location (near Metro Marina).

–Excellent and fairly frequent route setting. Boulder difficulty indicated by numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, etc.

–It is one level below the street and has reasonable air conditioning–something to consider on hot/humid summer days.

—Lynn Hill has visited here!

–Some pics:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Bloc District gym coming to downtown Barcelona in September 2024

–The folks who run Bloc District (above) are apparently opening a new gym soon with emphasis on roped climbing (lead/TR), and with 15 autobelays. As I get information and pictures, I’ll update this post.

–The location is said to be near Plaça Tetuan (Metro Tetuan), so if you are anywhere near the city center this should be very convenient. With an advertised 1,250 square meters of climbing area and 100+ routes, it will be smaller than Sharma Gavà, but perhaps on par with Climbat Foixarda. They also say it will have a restaurant/bar, store, and fitness workout area.

–Here is a three-minute preview video. Check out what they actually climb as the walls weren’t up yet when they filmed this. The video says it will open in Spring 2024, but it obviously is coming a few months later.

 

 

Finally: Some Curious Odds and Ends…

Online, if you Google around, you might come across “Roco i Bulder BCN, Guia d’Escalada Urbana de Barcelona“. This nice little online guide (written in Catalan by the Casals de Joves de Catalunya) contains pictures, addresses, and brief descriptions of some of the areas I have documented above as well as what follows: the lesser-known and, perhaps, not currently very active or maintained walls. 

Below, I have tried to update and expand on what you will find in “Roco i Bulder“:

 

C.J. Guineueta

—Plaça Ca n’Ensenya, 4, Barcelona, on the always-open patio of a Youth Center. Bouldering on artificial holds.

–Nice neighborhood, really, but the walls are a bit run down. Still you could hang out for a time here and get in a workout. Right next to a nice park (Parc Central del Nou Barris).

–There was a free-standing fence barrier there when I visited (Feb, 2021), but you can easily walk around it. Not sure of its purpose (COVID?) as there was no signage saying it was closed to use.

–Nearest Metro stop: Llucmajor.

–Some photos (Feb, 2021)…

 

 

 

 

La Casa Groga

—Carrer Ali Bei, 128, Barcelona. Bouldering on artificial holds. 

–Another blog mentioned you could climb through the fence in back to access the wall, but it looked tightly secured to me, and the wall looked too small to be worth it anyway… so maybe a site to cross off your Barcelona urban climbing bucket list–unless you are actually doing something with your kids at that particular Youth Center anyway.

–Maybe a five or ten-minute walk from Metro station Monumental.

Some photos (Feb, 2021)…

 

 

Jardins Rodrigo Caro

—Carrer del Turó de les Roquetes, Barcelona. Bouldering on artificial holds.

–There is a low wall that isn’t too bad if you happen to be up there hanging out with the kids or having a picnic–not really much of a destination urban climbing site.

–To the right of the low wall there is a taller wall with remnants of a bolted climbing traverse up high, but to reach the first bolt you’d maybe want to sling a hold, then (a bit higher) slide a wire over a stud for pro. From there, the bolts are widely spaced and there is no real anchor to lower from. Strange. Risky.

–This area actually has a little potential for someone with a bunch of bolts, a drill, some plastic holds, and time on their hands.

–Located just about a ten-minute walk up the hill from the Martinec FC site reviewed farther down. Nearest Metro station is Guinardó / Hospital de Sant Pau.

Some photos (Feb, 2021)…

 

 

 

 

 

 

St. Andreu de Palomar

—Carrer del Cinca 11-13, Barcelona (northeast facing, buildering on the back of a church…!?)

–After checking this place out in February, 2021, I have to say, “Don’t bother.” I saw no signs that climbers are using it–no chalk or shoe rubber marks–and being on the back of a church I suspect climbing here is frowned upon. I wouldn’t be comfortable doing it… and it isn’t even very good quality rock. Certainly go visit the church as it is quite beautiful, but don’t climb on it. So, seriously consider crossing this “buildering” location off of your list.

Some photos (Feb, 2021)…

 

 

Martinenc FC

–Across from Ronda del Guinardo, 114-116, on an outside wall of the Martinenc Futbol Club office (and next to the Centre Esportiu Municipal Guinardó). Access closes at 10p.m.

–Bouldering on artificial holds (a spinner here and there). Mostly easy, but by playing the elimination game you could make it interesting. Maybe ten feet tall and about forty feet long.

–Faces basically west, but under an overhang, so mostly protected from rain.

–Sometimes you might find the wall occupied by a class from the adjacent C.E.M. Guinardó.

–The Metro station Guinardó / Hospital de Sant Pau will drop you a stone’s throw away.

Some pictures (Feb, 2021)…

 

 

 

C.E.M. Olímpics

—Carrer de la Granja Vella 20, Barcelona, behind the huge, red brick gym/hospital complex. The gym is the Centre Esportiu Municipal Olímpics which shares the building with an extension of the Hospital Universitario Vall d’Hebron.

–This small brick wall faces basically east and there are maybe three or four easy three-bolt climbs with a pair of two-bolt anchors at the top. Routes are about 25 feet long and the bolts appear solid (but who really knows!).

–This could be a good place for teaching the art of belaying a sport route, BUT…  BEWARE: A fall whilst pulling up a pile of rope to clip the second or third bolt could mean a grounder and broken ankles… so think about how best to clip and make sure your belayer is competent. 

–With imagination, you could probably rig something up at the base to teach anchor cleaning by using a bolt and a sling on a bigger hold.

–With some hold elimination games, you could make the routes more challenging if necessary.

–Nearest Metro is Vall d’Hebron. Green zone pay parking nearby seemed reasonably plentiful, unless you go at peak hours.

Some pictures (Feb, 2021)…

 

 

 

 

Jardins Carles Soler

–In the park at the corner of Carrer de la Poesia and Carrer Vayreda, Barcelona.

–This was a very small area for bouldering on artificial holds, with shade all the time. Currently (Feb, 2021) abandoned with nearly all the holds removed, and converted into an urban art canvas.

–Someone with a bunch of holds could build a cozy little bouldering area here if they were motivated and had some time on their calloused climber hands–and if they didn’t mind having their holds painted over by “urban artists” the next day…

–Check out the “miniature Park Güell” on the nearby Carrer Vayreda!

–Nearest Metro is Mundet. If you drive, there is green zone pay parking in the area.

Some pictures (Feb, 2021)…

 

 

C.J. El Raco / Casal de Joves Les Corts

—Carrer Dolors Masferrer, 33-35, Barcelona.

–A small space with very short roped climbs and bouldering, but you need to have a federation license, or take a class, to access the walls.

–The youth center (Casal de Joves Les Corts) is open Tues-Sat 6-10p.m. if you wish to inquire about entering. Maybe try presenting your American Alpine Club (AAC) card???

–No pictures since I don’t have access, but you can find a few on pages 10-11 of the Casal de Joves urban climbing guide.

 

Additional “finds”…

–Not far from the United States Consulate, you’ll find this nice wall, maybe 50-60m long. You’ll have to locate it on your own, so no directions. Sorry! It is easier than the Park Güell upper wall, but still challenging. No individual moves are harder than, say, 5.9-ish, but it’ll certainly test your endurance–and you can always play the hold elimination game. Don’t litter, be neat and courteous to passersby, and try to minimize chalk use since it’s in a ritzy neighborhood and it would be nice to avoid becoming too conspicuous to the snooty class. The climber in this pic told me that the local police (who guard the Consulate) had him cease and desist on one occasion, but other cops at other times, as well as the neighbors, seem to be fine with us climbing on it:

[NOTE: On about my 10th visit to this wall (on a Saturday, mid-day), just when I had finished blowing out my fingers and arms and was changing shoes to leave, the police finally walked around the corner from their post near the Consulate and told me to skeedaddle. They were very nice about it, but still… climb here at your own risk.]

 

Beach Options…

There are actually some possibilities along the Barcelona beachfront, if you are truly desperate–maybe the family wants to hang out on the beach but you’d like to get in a bit of climbing?

A caution, though: these walls face basically south, so you’ll be frying in the summer… much nicer in the winter.

On the lower angle slabs, consider challenging yourself by traversing one-handed, or even no-handed… or designating certain lines of holds as off-limits. (These slabs would also be good for teaching basic climbing balance/center o’ gravity/technique.)

Instead of providing directions, I’ll just post a couple of pictures and you can do the exploring and locating–these places are pretty easy to find:

 

 

One note about that big fortress with the inviting walls that sits atop Montjuic…

You might see old bolts here and there on the massive Montjuic Castle. But, CLIMBING IS NO LONGER PERMITTED on these historic walls. Please stay off, no matter how tempting it might be!

 

Best gyms of nearby towns

Sabadell – The best is probably La Panxa del Bou (2-3 autobelays, lead climbing, bouldering… with a few cracks–on both on an adjustable wood wall and on the cement-like wall.)

Terrassa – The best is Gravetat Zero (12-15 autobelays, lead climbing, bouldering).

Badalona – The best is Bdn Climb (mostly bouldering, a handful of short autobelays, some lead climbing).

Girona – Cal Mico is your best/only!? option (mostly bouldering, a few autobelays, some lead climbing).

Esparraguera – In this town you have Les Agulles. A very small place with bouldering, some lead, and a few autobelays. Not very tall. Best to continue on to Montserrat and climb there, unless you are weathered out, then it might be convenient.