Palau Güell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Palacio Güell |
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| General information | |
| Location | Barcelona, Spain |
| Coordinates | 41°22′44″N 2°10′27″E / 41.37889°N 2.17417°E |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Antoni Gaudí |
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
| Part of | Works of Antoni Gaudí |
| Criteria | Cultural: (i), (ii), (iv) |
| Inscription | 1984 (8th Session) |
| Extensions | 2005 |
| Type: | Non-movable |
| Criteria: | Monument |
| Designated: | 24 July 1969 |
| Reference #: | RI-51-0003821 |
The Palau Güell (which means Güell Palace) is a beautiful mansion in Barcelona, Spain. A famous architect named Antoni Gaudí designed it for a wealthy businessman, Eusebi Güell. This amazing building was built between 1886 and 1888. It is located in the El Raval neighborhood. The Palau Güell is so special that it's even part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This means it's recognized as important for everyone in the world to protect.
Discovering Palau Güell
The Palau Güell was designed for entertaining important guests. It has a grand main room for parties and gatherings. Imagine arriving in a horse-drawn carriage! Guests would enter through the impressive front iron gates.
These gates are very special. They have a unique shape called a parabolic arch. The ironwork on them looks like seaweed and even horsewhips. Carriages could enter through one gate and leave through another.
Inside the Mansion
Once inside, the horses would go down a ramp to the basement. This is where the stables were, and where the servants lived. Guests would walk up the stairs to a special receiving room.
This room has fancy walls and ceilings. Hidden high up in the walls are small viewing windows. From an upper floor, the owners could peek at their guests. This way, they could see who had arrived before greeting them. It helped them make sure they looked just right!
The main party room is very tall. It has small holes near the top of the ceiling. At night, lanterns were hung outside these holes. This made the ceiling look like a sky full of twinkling stars.
Restoring the Palace
In 2004, the Palau Güell had to close to visitors. Some of the stone used to build it was getting weak. Over the years, cracks appeared, causing problems for the building's structure.
Workers began a big project to fix and restore the palace. They carefully repaired the damaged parts. All the restoration work was finished in April 2011. Today, the Palau Güell is fully open again for everyone to visit and enjoy.
See also
In Spanish: Palacio Güell para niños
- List of Modernisme buildings in Barcelona
