Montjuïc ( Catalan pronunciation: [muɲʒuˈik] ) is a hill in Barcelona , Catalonia , Spain .
41-637: Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium formerly known as the Estadi de Montjuïc and Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc and also known in English as the Barcelona Olympic Stadium , is a stadium in Barcelona , Catalonia , Spain. Originally built in 1927 for the 1929 International Exposition in the city (and Barcelona's failed bid for the 1936 Summer Olympics , which were awarded to Berlin ), it
82-598: A gondola lift . On the eastern slope is the Miramar terminal of the Port Vell Aerial Tramway connecting Montjuïc with Barceloneta on the other side of Port Vell . Part of the slopes are covered with a well attended park and gardens . The hill is often used for amateur cycling . In June 1792 the French astronomers Jean Baptiste Joseph Delambre and Pierre François André Méchain set out to measure
123-541: A folk dance festival on the mountain while attending a music festival in Barcelona. They took down the melodies and the following year they jointly wrote a suite of four Catalan dances for orchestra, which they named Mont Juic . A track called "Montjuic" was released on the 2021 album Polydans by German musician Roosevelt . American Bowl The American Bowl was a series of National Football League pre-season exhibition games that were held at sites outside
164-701: A friendly football match between the Catalan national team and Bolton Wanderers , which the Catalan team won by a shocking score of 4–0 with goals from Josep Samitier (2), Martí Ventolrà and Manuel Parera . It was meant to host the People's Olympiad in 1936, a protest event against the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin , but the event had to be canceled due to the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War . In
205-535: A hill or mountain named Montjuïc just to the north of its old quarter with a similar history; its name is derived from the medieval Jewish cemetery that was there. Montjuïc, because of its strategic location on the Mediterranean, and alongside an important river communication channel, the Llobregat River , was the birthplace of the city of Barcelona. Archaeological discoveries have added greatly to
246-519: A rich history. It was the birthplace of the city, and its strategic location on the Mediterranean and the Llobregat River has made it significant throughout history. The hill has a medieval Jewish cemetery, declared an area of Cultural Asset of National Interest in 2007. Montjuïc has been the site of various fortifications, including the Castle of Montjuïc dating back to the 17th century. The area
287-595: Is because they were not arranged by the NFL but, rather, the scheduled home team elected to play there. Montreal held an American Bowl in 1990. At the time Montreal had no CFL team, after the Concordes/Alouettes had folded in 1987, but before the new Alouettes relocated there in 1996. The NFL-backed World League saw the Montreal Machine franchise compete in 1991 and 1992. The last American Bowl
328-524: The 1975 F1 race was nearly boycotted by drivers. During the Barcelona's bid for the 1992 Summer Olympics , the stadium was totally renovated with the involvement of Italian architect Vittorio Gregotti . The stadium was gutted, preserving parts of the original facades, and new grandstands were built. In 1989, the venue was re-inaugurated for the World Cup in Athletics , and three years later it hosted
369-637: The Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina , past the Font Màgica and through the Plaça del Marquès de Foronda and the Plaça de les Cascades to the Palau Nacional . The Poble Espanyol, a "Spanish village" of different buildings built in different styles of Spanish architecture , also survives, located on the western side of the hill. Mies van der Rohe 's German national pavilion was constructed at
410-588: The Camp Nou . The club plan to continue playing at the Estadi Olímpic until the redevelopment of the Camp Nou is completed by the 2025–26 season. 41°21′53″N 2°9′20″E / 41.36472°N 2.15556°E / 41.36472; 2.15556 Montju%C3%AFc Montjuïc or Montjuich, meaning "Jewish Mountain" in medieval Latin and Catalan, is a broad, shallow hill in Barcelona with
451-577: The Denver Broncos . In 2001, the stadium was renamed after the former president of the Generalitat de Catalunya Lluís Companys , who was executed at the nearby Montjuïc Castle in 1940 by the Franco regime . In 2010, the stadium hosted the 20th European Athletics Championships . Since the 2023–24 season , the stadium has served as the home ground for Barcelona during the redevelopment of
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#1732801483453492-673: The Institut Nacional d'Educació Física de Catalunya state , a centre of sports science ; the Piscines Bernat Picornell and the Piscina Municipal de Montjuïc , the venues for swimming and diving events respectively; and the striking telecommunications tower , designed by the architect Santiago Calatrava . Of the Piscines (swimming pools), the diving pool was selected as the setting for
533-459: The Montjuïc trial prompted the execution of anarchist supporters and led to a severe repression of the struggle for workers' rights. During this era, "Montjuïc" was synonymous with barbarism based on the torture of anarchists and others imprisoned there. On different occasions during the Spanish Civil War , both Nationalists and Republicans were executed there, each at the time when the site
574-652: The Montreal Alouettes , who opposed it as an "invasion" of their city. Five games also used the American Bowl format without the name prior to 1986. One of these games was an AFL–NFL matchup, Boston vs. Detroit on August 25, 1969. Firstly, two games were played in Montreal in 1969. Then NFL exhibition games took place in Tokyo (1976), Mexico City (1978), and London (1983) before the term American Bowl
615-880: The New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks at Beijing National Stadium in Beijing , China, was named the China Bowl instead of the American Bowl ; that game, too, was eventually canceled before being played. The first regular season NFL game played outside the United States was held on October 2, 2005, at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City before an NFL regular-season record of 103,467 fans. The Arizona Cardinals defeated
656-695: The San Francisco 49ers , 31–14. The New York Giants and Miami Dolphins played a regular season game at the newly rebuilt Wembley Stadium in London on October 28, 2007 (with the Giants winning 13–10), the first ever NFL regular season game to be played outside of North America; similarly, the San Diego Chargers and New Orleans Saints followed suit in October 2008 . These games are termed
697-680: The latitudes of the two cities they could calculate the distance between the North Pole and the Equator in classical French units of length and hence produce the first prototype metre which was defined as being one ten millionth of that distance. The definitive metre bar, manufactured from platinum, was presented to the French legislative assembly on 22 June 1799. In 1936, the British composers Lennox Berkeley and Benjamin Britten visited
738-408: The meridian arc distance from Dunkirk to Barcelona, two cities lying on approximately the same longitude as each other and also the longitude through Paris . The fortress on Montjuïc was chosen as the reference point in Barcelona. After protracted negotiations (France and Spain were technically at war) Méchain made his measurements from the fortress on 16 March 1794. Using this measurement and
779-649: The " Slow " music video recorded in 2003 by Australian singer Kylie Minogue . The ornate Palau Nacional houses the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya , an extensive showcase of Catalan painting and sculpture. The top of the hill can be reached using the Funicular de Montjuïc , a funicular railway that operates as part of the Barcelona Metro , and then the Montjuïc Cable Car ,
820-621: The 1992 Olympics), it is the sixth-largest stadium in Spain and the second largest in Catalonia. The stadium is located in the Anella Olímpica , on Montjuïc , a hill to the southwest of the city that overlooks the harbor. Designed by architect Pere Domènech i Roura for the 1929 Expo , the stadium was officially opened on 20 May 1929. The opening ceremonies included Spain 's first official rugby international game against Italy , and
861-631: The CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats ). The NFL and CFL also arranged games in each other's country as part of what NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle called "harmonious relations" between the leagues. In 1960, the New York Giants scheduled exhibitions in Montreal and Toronto in response to a 1958 CFL matchup in Philadelphia ; the Montreal game was subsequently canceled due to scheduling conflicts with
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#1732801483453902-482: The United States between 1986 and 2005. The league started the American Bowl series in 1986 primarily to promote American football in other countries. After successful games in London's Wembley Stadium , the series was expanded to Japan. After 1990, games were also played in Montreal and Berlin to promote the new World League of American Football (later NFL Europe ) which started in 1991. Several earlier pre-season games involved NFL teams and were played outside
943-524: The United States, without being labeled "American Bowl" games. Between 1950 and 1983, there were 13 football games involving NFL or AFL teams played on foreign soil. Six games in Canada between 1950–1961 pitted NFL teams against CFL teams with the NFL team winning all six games. These games were a hybrid of US and Canadian football. One game involved an AFL team (the Buffalo Bills , who lost 38–21 to
984-647: The centerpiece. The hill is now home to the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya and various parks and gardens , and can be accessed via the Funicular de Montjuïc and the Montjuïc Cable Car. Montjuïc translates to " Jewish Mountain" from medieval Latin and Catalan , and remains of a medieval Jewish cemetery have been found there. Some sources suggest that Montjuïc is related to the Latin phrase Mons Jovicus ('hill of Jove '). The city of Girona has
1025-632: The club left for a new stadium in Cornellà / El Prat upon its completion in 2008. The roads in the slopes facing the city were once the Montjuïc circuit Formula One race track , hosting the Spanish Grand Prix on four occasions. However, a terrible accident in the 1975 race saw Rolf Stommelen 's car crash into the stands, killing four people; as a result the Spanish Grand Prix never returned to Montjuïc circuit. Montjuïc
1066-469: The existence of the medieval Jewish cemetery in Barcelona, considered the largest in Europe of its time. Barcelona's Montjuïc is a broad shallow hill with a relatively flat top overlooking the harbour , to the southwest of the city centre. The eastern side of the hill is almost a sheer cliff, giving it a commanding view over the city's harbour immediately below. The top of the hill (a height of 184.8 m)
1107-433: The fifties, the stadium was the centerpiece of the 1955 Mediterranean Games , and in 1957 it hosted the only national football cup final between Barcelona and Espanyol , the two local clubs. In the seventies, the stadium was disused and the stands deteriorated. When the Spanish Grand Prix and other races were held at the Montjuïc racing circuit , the stadium was used as a paddock for the teams. Due to safety concerns,
1148-527: The foot of the hill, near the Plaça del Marquès de Foronda. It was demolished in 1930 but was rebuilt in 1988. Also completed in 1929, the Olympic stadium was intended to host an anti-fascist alternative Olympics in 1936, in opposition to the 1936 Berlin Olympics . These plans were cancelled due to the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War . The stadium served as the home for football team Espanyol , until
1189-761: The history of Barcelona. During the Iberian period, and especially during the Roman period Montjuïc became the main quarry of Barcelona, drastically changing the shape of the mountain. On March 15, 2007, the General Directorate of Heritage of the Generalitat of Catalonia, in accordance with the Catalan Cultural Heritage Law (Law 9/1993, of September 30), declared Montjuic an area of Cultural Asset of National Interest (BCIN), due to
1230-626: The opening and closing ceremonies and all the athletics competitions of the Olympic Games and also the same functions during the Paralympics. The stadium served as the home of Espanyol from 1997 until 2009. It also served as the home of the Barcelona Dragons American football team from 1991 until 2002. Because the size of the playing surface was slightly shorter than the regulation American Football length,
1271-753: The same weekend as the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game , and did not take away a game from the participating teams' pre-season schedules. The largest crowd in NFL history was recorded at the American Bowl game at Mexico City on August 15, 1994, when 112,376 people attended the Governor's Cup game between the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Oilers . In 1996 it was played in Monterrey at the Estadio Universitario . The 1997 game
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1312-635: The stadium only had seven-yard end zones, three yards shorter than regulation NFL size in 1991 and 1992. They were later lengthened to the standard ten yards. The stadium also played host to the National Football League 's American Bowl in 1993 and in 1994. The San Francisco 49ers played the Pittsburgh Steelers on 1 August 1993. The second game was played on 31 July 1994 between the Los Angeles Raiders and
1353-535: Was also associated with political imprisonments and executions, and held significance during the Spanish Civil War. The hill was chosen as the site for the 1929 International Exposition , which led to the construction of several buildings, including the Palau Nacional and the Estadi Olímpic. Montjuïc was also the location for several venues during the 1992 Summer Olympics, with the Olympic stadium as
1394-481: Was coined. The game in Tokyo was called the "Mainichi Star Bowl" to reflect its sponsors Mainichi Shimbun and Sports Nippon . The game in London was called the "Global Cup". At least one American Bowl game was played annually between 1986 and 2003. As many as four were played per year in the early 1990s. The two participating teams were selected by the league. The American Bowl was a fifth pre-season game, played
1435-599: Was held by their opponents. The former president of the Generalitat de Catalunya Lluís Companys was also executed there in 1940, having been extradited to the Franco government by the Nazis . Naturally wooded, the slopes of the Montjuïc were traditionally used to grow food and graze animals by the people of the neighbouring Ciutat Vella . In the 1890s, the forests were partially cleared, opening space for parklands. The site
1476-454: Was held in 2005. After taking over the position in 2006, new NFL commissioner Roger Goodell cited the league's new international strategy in the abandonment of international pre-season games as well as the closure of what had by then become NFL Europa after its 2007 season, instead focusing on playing regular season games in foreign countries. The pre-season game that was scheduled to take place in August 2007 (later postponed to 2009) between
1517-420: Was played in Dublin , Ireland, as well as Toronto (Buffalo and Green Bay). There were three games in 1998 , two in 2000 , and thereafter one per year. There was no American Bowl game played in 2004, and from 2000 to 2005 all American Bowl games were played in either Mexico or Japan. Two 1988 games in Montreal and Gothenburg , Sweden, and a 1993 game in Toronto, are not classed as American Bowl games. This
1558-434: Was renovated in 1989 to be the main stadium for the 1992 Summer Olympics and 1992 Summer Paralympics . It is used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Barcelona since the 2023–24 season, due to the renovation of their regular ground, the Camp Nou . The stadium is named after Lluís Companys , the president of Catalonia during the Spanish Civil War. With its current capacity of 54,367 seats (67,007 during
1599-415: Was selected as the site for several of the venues of the 1992 Summer Olympics , centred on the Olympic stadium. Extensively refurbished and renamed the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys , the 65,000-seat stadium saw the opening and closing ceremonies and hosted the athletic events. Around it the Anella Olímpica (the "Olympic Ring") of sporting venues was built, including the Palau Sant Jordi indoor arena,
1640-401: Was selected to host the 1929 International Exposition (a World's Fair ), for which the first large-scale construction on the hill began. The surviving buildings from this effort include the grand Palau Nacional , the Estadi Olímpic (the Olympic stadium), the ornate Magic Fountain of Montjuïc (Font Màgica), and a grand staircase leading up from the foot of Montjuïc at the south end of
1681-457: Was the site of several fortifications , the latest of which (the Castle of Montjuïc ) remains today. The fortress largely dates from the 17th century, with 18th-century additions. In 1842, the garrison (loyal to the Madrid government) shelled parts of the city. It served as a prison, often holding political prisoners, until the time of General Franco . The castle was also the site of numerous executions. In 1897, an incident popularly known as