Poblenou Cemetery
Torre Agbar
Beach
History
Museu del Disseny and the Torre Agbar light up Poblenou at night.
Poblenou was one of the largest and most important centres for industry in Catalunya during the time of the industrial revolution, particularly in the 18th century. Its factories and manufacturing plants specialised in textiles and metallurgy. As these industries changed, the old processes were replaced by new techniques and the factory buildings that no longer fulfilled their original functions were shut down.
Sightseeing
If you walk through Poblenou today it is filled with new, and very impressive, buildings but only a few years ago it seemed as though the entire neighbourhood was a giant building site. A total of 925,482m² has been redeveloped and transformed into an important centre for new technologies and knowledge based industries in a project known as 22@bcn. The project began in 2000 and at its heart is the Torre Agbar designed by Jean Nouvel. This is very similar to the Swiss RE building in London (also known as ‘The Gherkin’), which was finished in 2005. More tower blocks of offices, hotels and apartments are also being built. According to a study in 2008, more than 1000 businesses in Barcelona have relocated to 22@bcn since its launch.
Poblenou Beach
Bogatell beach is a result of the urban planning movement that came to fruition in 1992 when Barcelona hosted the summer Olympics. The commitment to build accessible and enjoyable beaches throughout the city was carried out, now the neighbourhood of Poblenou has its own beach away from the crowds that Barceloneta attracts. The quiet beach at Bogatell offers sun loungers, beach umbrellas, bicycling areas, WiFi, and activities for kids, without so many people crowding you and making it difficult to enjoy.
Beso de la Muerte in Poblenou Cemetery. Photo by Beatriz Martínou on Flickr.
Poblenou Cemetery
Poblenou Park
The Parc del Centre del Poblenou is new to the area., It was designed in 2008 and adds a much needed green space to the once industrial neighbourhood. The park is full of Mediterranean plants and green space to run and play. Its designer, Jean Nouvel, wanted the space to offer something for the entire community in Poblenou so he included a lot of relaxing shaded areas along with colourful vegetation to inspire children to play.
Dining and Nightlife
Enjoy a bite to eat on the terrace lined Rambla del Poblenou
Due to the space being created in the area around Poblenou after the redevelopment, several large nightclubs have made this their base and some of the biggest warehouse parties in Barcelona can be found here. The most famous club in this neighbourhood is Razzmatazz, a 5 level club that attracts visitors and locals. Each floor of the club has a different theme, decoration and crowd ; you are sure to find something to excite you here.
There are a variety of good restaurants along the Rambla de Poblenou:
La Broqueta specialize in brochette and grilled meat from Girona. This restaurant has a warm, rustic dining environment as well as a quiet terrace.
Address: Rambla del Poblenou, 101
Yoshinoya-8 offer traditional Japanese cuisine, that means more than just sushi. You can enjoy teppanyaki, traditional rice and soups, and tempura in this relaxed restaurant with an open kitchen.
Address: Rambla del Poblenou, 153
La Biennal is a casual restaurant, that attracts a lot of young people to its large terrace, serving traditional Spanish dishes and tapas along with good cocktails.
Address: Rambla del Poblenou, 76
How to get there
The L4 metro line traverses the area stopping at Llacuna, Poblenou and Selva de Mar. Or, alternatively the T4 tram starts at Ciutadella-Port Olimpic, stopping at Forum and terminating at Sant Adriá de Besòs.
