"any military museums etc in Barcelona??" Topic

Guys im going to be in Barcelona soon and wondering if there is anything of military note to visit esp Napoleonic related? thanks Peter

There is the replica of one of Columbus' ships.

Hi, In Barcelona there is not a military museum. We had ione in the castle of Montjuic but it was moved to Figueras.
Still, you can visit the castle itself. Is situated on a mountain by the sea and it was the site of the battle of Montjuic in 1640 between franco-catalans and spanish. The castle is a Vauban style fortress overlooking the city. It had several cannons and guns but I think they were also moved to Figueras.

There is no more the replica of the Santa Maria, the Columbus ship because it was burned. I think that the museum you can visit is the Maritime Museum in the Royal Shipyards (Reials Drassanes). There is a replica of the wargalley used by Don Juan de Austria in the battle of Lepanto.

I recommend you take a copy of 'homage to catalonia' with you though – in fact, start reading it now – there are a good few bits in Barcelona itself, and its fun hunting out the spots along the Ramblas in person.

Very good idea Keraunos-one of my favourite books.Oriol are they any gaming shops in barcelona ,might be able to divert family n buy some stuff over there :-)))

I did not know she had burned down.

Try this campaign-game-miniatures.com

I didn't make it when I was there:-(

There's a nice maritime museum

I havn't been allowed to go looking for any gaming shops on previous trips there. If there is, it didn't leap out at me on the tourist trails, but we studiously avoided the proper shopping areas, you'd need a local to get a good answer on that though.

one family recommendation though – do some web research on the art held in each of the museums, and show them some first – if for example, you are the only one who fancies seeing a bit of Miro, then maybe its not worth setting aside 2 or 3 hours to go around that museum, since its not next to anything else, and you can save up your 'my choice' impositions for something else.

and the sagrada is absolutely stowed out early, so you'll need to get out of bed and on the road very quickly if you want to see that one in any comfort – our bus went past it at 10.30 and the queues were around 2 blocks already (mind you, that was August, which is also not recommeneded as a time to go on holiday anywhere in western continetal europe, ever)

oh, and don't buy bottle water on the ramblas – go to a parallel street, and find a local shop or mini supermarket – quarter the price, same stuff.

Hobby shops in Barcelona city:

Central de Jocs ( centraldejocs.com ):
Numància, 112
08029 Barcelona
Manager: Joan Parés

Campaign Game Miniatures ( link ):
Comte Borrell 118, 5è 1ª
08015 Barcelona
Manager: Dermot (sorry I don't remember his surname. Not a shop properly, though. Better phoning him before).

Plan B ( planb-miniaturas.com ):
Viada, 2
08012 Barcelona

Llibreria Gigamesh ( gigamesh.com ). They have two shops, the Sci-Fi & Fantasy main bookshop and a subordinate games shop quite close to the former one. Their addresses are:
Ronda Sant Pere, 53
08010 Barcelona

Passeig Sant Joan 2, local 5
08010 Barcelona

Jordi Rubio ( jordirubio.com ). An excellent modelling shop:
Còrsega, 625
08025 Barcelona

Militària Barcelona ( militariabcn.com ). A quite good books & Militaria shop:
Bruc, 87
08009 Barcelona

Hope it helps!

Lluís
wargames.cat

Two hours to the north by car is Figueras which has a fine example of a Napoleonic fortress. It was later used as holding centre in the Spanish Civil War for International Brigade volunteers and hosted the final cabinet meeting of the Republican Government.