Font del Gat facts for kids
The Font del Gat (which means Cat's Fountain in English) is a famous fountain in Barcelona, Catalonia. It's listed as an important part of Catalonia's architectural history.
You can find the Font del Gat inside the beautiful Laribal Gardens on Montjuïc hill. The fountain sits within a cool arch made of rough stone. It's surrounded by lovely gardens, stairs, and smaller fountains. These lead up from the Santa Madrona promenade to the main fountain. The whole garden area stretches up the hillside, with many paths, terraces, and hidden spots. It has a gazebo, ramps, and even a big waterfall with four different parts.
About the Fountain
The Font del Gat is one of the most popular spots on Montjuïc. It's located in the Laribal Gardens, which were named after the Laribal family who used to own the land. In 1908, these gardens became one of Barcelona's first public parks. From the early 1900s, the Font del Gat became a favorite place for people to meet and have picnics.
Between 1916 and 1918, a landscape architect named Jean-Claude Nicolas Forestier started to design and improve the Laribal Gardens. He worked with Nicolau M. Rubió and Tudurí. Forestier left in 1919, so Rubió i Tudurí finished the project. He made some important changes to the original plans. As part of this work, the Font del Gat area was updated. A carved cat's head, made by Josep Antoni Homs, was added as a water spout. It seems there has been a fountain in this exact spot for many centuries, even before these improvements.
The Laribal Garden has three main areas, each at a different height. At the lowest level are the gardens of Josep Amargós, where you can find the Teatre Grec (Greek Theater). In the middle section is the Font del Gat and an area called Colla de l'Arròs. The highest part has a special kind of garden design.
Later, around 1925, Josep Puig i Cadafalch built a restaurant next to the fountain. This was a place where families could hold big celebrations like baptisms or parties. The area around the fountain was originally private and fenced off. You could enter through an archway at the end of a long staircase. On a wooden panel nearby, you can see two black cats and the year "1884." This shows the fountain was there even before Puig i Cadafalch's work.
The Famous Song
The Font del Gat is also well-known because of a popular song called La Marieta de l'ull viu (Marieta the Forethoughtful).
| Catalan | English |
|---|---|
| Baixant de la font del Gat una noia, una noia, | Down from the cat's fountain a maiden, a maiden, |
| baixant de la font del Gat una noia i un soldat. | down from the cat's fountain a maiden and a soldier. |
| Pregunteu-li com se diu, Marieta, Marieta, | Ask him what is her name, Marieta, Marieta, |
| Pregunteu-li com se diu, Marieta de l'Ull Viu. | ask him what is her name, Marieta the Forethoughtful. |
See also
In Spanish: Font del Gat para niños
