Spain is filled with history but high above the city of Barcelona, Spain in the district of El Caramel are Bunkers del Caramel, the underground military bunkers that offer the best view of the city.
It stands at 262 meters with a 360-degree view of the city. It is located at the top of Turó de la Rovira in the Carmel neighborhood.
A visitor from Madrid, Camila, further speaks about her adoration of the bunkers.
"My friends and I take the train all the time just to come here," says Camila, "it is probably one of the most beautiful places in Spain and carries a lot of history."
It is common to go to the bunkers to get a beautiful view of the city, but there is so much more history behind it than anyone would expect and it dates back to the 1900s.
History of Bunkers del Caramel
The Bunkers were built during the Spanish Civil War in 1937 and were used to defend against attacks from the fascists and contained plenty of guns. This was the place where they strategically shot down enemy planes and stored guns, but eventually, the guns were evacuated and disabled to prevent the enemies from taking them.
This was, of course, due to the fact that Barcelona was the first major city in history to be bombed from the air. It suffered over 200 bombings, leaving almost 3,000 people dead and over 7,000 people injured in the end.
The city ended up counting as a single defense and a wide network of underground shelters. This system of antiaircraft warfare was eventually established by the Government of the Republic.
In January 1939, at the time of the withdrawal, was when the Army disarmed the artillery pieces completely but didn't fully withdraw them. After the Civil War, the space was left untouched, resulting in the remains of abandoned warfare constructions being scattered everywhere.
Some other installations within the bunkers included an anti-aircraft machine gun, an ammunition depot, pavilions for officers and the troops, dormitories, toilets, showers and kitchens.
During the Franco Regime, Franco came to power and the Civil War was over. This was when people started to take advantage of the fact that the bunkers were still there and abandoned.
Due to the issues among social classes and poverty at the time, locals started to use the bunkers that remained as forms of housing and shelter.
But during the 40s and 50s, the bunkers were filled with plenty of shacks, usually made out of mud and wood. The town lacked proper sanitation, safe water supply and electricity. Towards the end of the 50s, it provided shelter for a small amount of Barcelona's population.
With the intention of cleaning up the city before the 1992 Olympic Games, the Barcelona City Council noticed how bad the poverty was and decided to rehouse all of the residents that were living in the bunkers. They moved them within the city and placed them in flats, leaving the area and the village surrounding the bunkers completely abandoned.
This village is located just down the mountain and contains restaurants, stores, houses, metros, etc. It continues to grow day by day as they add more shops.
Some water tanks and communication towers were also built back then to maintain human life and if you look hard enough, they can still be seen in the area.
After the bunkers were forgotten about for the following decade, they started to be rediscovered in the 2000s when people slowly started to find out about the breathtaking views it provides.
From that moment, it became one of the most known hang-out spots in Barcelona. It now ranks among the top alternative spots in Barcelona.
Zach, a visitor from Arizona, further describes his initial reaction to the bunkers.
"I have hiked a lot," says Zach, "but I don't really think that anything compares to this hike. The views are unreal, the vibes are amazing and it is evident that these bunkers carry a lot of history."
But the Bunkers del Caramel doesn't just provide amazing views. There is also a small museum built into one of the bunkers, which was partially excavated. It tells the story of the many years of history that the bunkers represent.
As of Today...
Today, the bunkers are one of the most known and visited places in Barcelona. Besides the fascinating history behind these bunkers, the main reason that people visit the bunkers is that they offer the most incredible panoramic views of the city, giving you the opportunity to see major landmarks at once.
It is clear that except for the pathways and the underground museum, the bunkers look abandoned with old pieces of concrete scattered around, half steps that people use to sit on and graffiti on almost every inch of every wall.
The bunkers are a common place to watch the sunset and sunrise over the city while enjoying a picnic, taking pictures, playing music, hanging out with friends and taking in the breathtaking views.
Visitor Camila further explains what she and her friends do when they visit the bunkers.
"We come here to have picnics and listen to music all the time," said Camila, "but we also meet a lot of people up here. Meeting people just automatically makes this place more memorable."
Sometimes, the bunkers get crowded but there is enough room for plenty of people to spread out and find a space to sit down and enjoy their time there. Many people tend to gravitate toward the many different bunkers on the mountain.
In order to get to the Bunkers del Carmel, an uphill hike is necessary. It is a tiring hike but is overall worth it. Oftentimes, people take the bus or a taxi but a five-minute hike is still necessary after being dropped off.
Grab a blanket, friends, music and snacks and enjoy the views while learning about the history of this hidden but well-known gem.
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