Barcelona Royal Shipyard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barcelona Royal Shipyard |
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Aerial view of the building
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| General information | |
| Type | Historic building |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| Location | Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain |
| Coordinates | 41°22′30″N 2°10′35″E / 41.375°N 2.1763°E |
| Construction started | 13th century |
| Completed | 14th century |
| Renovated | 17th-18th centuries |
The Barcelona Royal Shipyard (also known as Catalan: Drassanes Reials de Barcelona) is a very old building in Barcelona, Spain. It used to be a place where ships were built and repaired. Today, it is home to the Barcelona Maritime Museum.
This amazing building was started in the 13th century. It was built in a style called Gothic architecture, which means it has tall arches and strong walls. In 2012, during some digging, people found out that the current building was actually built on top of an even older shipyard from the 16th century! They also found an ancient Roman graveyard. The shipyard was fully restored in 2013, and the museum reopened in 2014.
Contents
History of the Shipyard
The Barcelona Royal Shipyard was built in many steps over more than 400 years. Here's how it grew:
Early Beginnings: 13th Century
- The first mention of a shipyard here is from 1241. King James I of Aragon ordered that no buildings should block the coast near "the ataszana" (the shipyard).
- Later in the 13th century, around 1285, King Peter III of Aragon ordered a new shipyard to be built. It was a strong, rectangular building with walls and four towers, but no roof. Two of these towers are still standing today!
Growing Bigger: 14th Century
- Between 1328 and 1390, the city walls were expanded to include the shipyard.
- A roof was added to the building. This was important to protect the galleys (large, oared ships) that were stored there during the winter. It kept them from getting damaged by the weather.
New Additions: 15th Century
- From 1390 to 1415, a new section called Porxo No was added. This part was also known as Pere IV.
- This area was originally planned to be a royal palace, but the idea was later dropped. Only the foundations for the palace were ever built.
Moving Inland: 16th Century
- The original medieval building was replaced by a new shipyard a bit further inland.
- Even though it was a new building, it still used the old Gothic style. This made it hard for historians to figure out its age!
- The move was necessary because the city's port had changed the ocean currents. This caused the old shipyard to flood often.
Modern Changes: 17th and 18th Centuries
- In 1612, the Catalan government added three more sections to the building.
- After a conflict called the Catalan Revolt (1640–1652), the Spanish government made the shipyard even bigger. It was used both as a place to store weapons and as a military barracks (a place for soldiers to live).
- In 1725, two more barracks were built for soldiers, one for cavalry (soldiers on horseback) and one for infantry (soldiers on foot). These were removed in 1935.
- The last big change happened between 1742 and 1749. The roofs of two central sections were joined to create one large section, known as Nau Central.
What the Shipyard Was Used For
From the very beginning, the shipyard's main purpose was to build galleys for the Aragonese navy. It was also a naval arsenal, meaning it stored ships, ropes, sails, and all the equipment needed for them. The shipyard even made many of these materials itself, like sails and ropes, and weapons for the sailors.
After a big renovation in 1381, the building had eight long sections, each about 8.4 meters high and 8.4 meters wide. These sections were about 60 meters long and had 17 strong columns. The building was made using stone from the nearby Montjuïc mountain, sand from the beach, and wood from forests like Baix Ebre and Gavarres. Ropes and tiles came from Valencia.
The shipyard was busiest during the rule of King Alfonso V of Aragon. In 1423, they built twelve galleys at the same time! A famous ship built here was the Real in 1571. This royal galley, belonging to John of Austria, was the main ship at the important Battle of Lepanto. You can see a reproduction of this famous galley at the Barcelona Maritime Museum today.
Later Years and the Museum
In the 18th century, shipbuilding moved to the Cartagena shipyard. After the War of Spanish Succession, the Barcelona Royal Shipyard became an artillery barracks for the Spanish Army. It was used to build, store, and fix cannons and other artillery.
In 1935, the building was given to the city of Barcelona. The city decided to turn it into a maritime museum, which first opened its doors in 1941.
In July 1936, during a time of conflict in Spain, the shipyard was the site of a battle. This event was part of the beginning of the Spanish Civil War.
On May 5, 1976, the Barcelona Royal Shipyard was recognized as a very important national cultural site.
Getting There by Metro
The closest subway station is Drassanes. "Drassanes" is the Catalan word for shipyard! You can find it on the 
line of the Barcelona Metro system.
See also
In Spanish: Atarazanas Reales de Barcelona para niños
- Catalan Gothic
