Barcelona's Magic Fountain flows again after three years without water

The Magic Fountain of Montjuïc returned to action on Tuesday after three years without water.

For one hour, lucky visitors and passersby got a sneak preview ahead of the fountain’s full reopening.

The surprise opening delighted many travelers who hadn’t expected to see it in operation, while others just missed it, or were caught off guard when the water suddenly stopped in the middle of taking photos.

The brief test run was carried out by operators to ensure everything was ready for the official reopening on Wednesday. 

The fountain had been shut down not only due to drought restrictions, lifted in April of this year, but also for its most extensive renovation in three decades.

Among the renovations, the 4,760 old incandescent white light bulbs were replaced with 680 LED lights.

“We have been able to cut energy use by 80%,” said Gustavo Ramon, head of operations, during a visit to the renovated site.

Ramon explained that the €6 million renovation would be largely invisible to the public, as the “original spirit” of the fountain has been preserved.

The improvements focus on reliability, efficiency, and safety. “The main change has been in the control system to improve performance and ensure safer operation,” he added.

Located on Maria Cristina Avenue and crowned by Montjuïc hill and Catalonia’s National Art Museum (MNAC), the iconic fountain, dating back to 1929, is now ready to shine again.

The first grand show of the fountain will take place on Sunday with the Piromusical, a spectacular fireworks display set to music, as part of the La Mercè festival.

Starting October 2, the fountain will return to its regular schedule of light and water shows: Thursdays to Saturdays, from 9 to 10 pm in October, and from 8 to 9 pm in November and December.