El Born Center of Culture and Memory

The El Born Centre de Cultura i Memòria, located in the heart of the lively El Born neighborhood of Barcelona, is a culturally and historically significant center. Housed in a building that was originally the Mercat del Born, the center combines history, art, and memory in a multifunctional space that invites reflection and discovery. The Mercat del Born was designed by architect Josep Fontserè and inaugurated in 1876. This market, one of the city’s first iron and glass buildings, represented a sign of modernity and progress for the Barcelona of the time. Fontserè was inspired by the Parisian markets of Les Halles, creating a spacious and functional space characterized by an exposed metal structure, a central dome, and a roof of glazed tiles. The market operated as a wholesale trade center until 1971, when it was closed and underwent various uses and restorations until its transformation into a cultural center. The transformation of the Mercat del Born into the El Born Centre de Cultura i Memòria was triggered by an extraordinary archaeological discovery. During renovation works in 2001, the remains of the medieval neighborhood of La Ribera were unearthed, an active residential area until the end of the War of Spanish Succession in 1714. This perfectly preserved archaeological site offers a unique insight into daily life in 18th century Barcelona, with its streets, houses, wells, and intact urban infrastructure. The center, inaugurated in 2013, has become a place of great importance for the city, not only for the historical value of the archaeological site, but also for the numerous cultural activities it hosts. El Born CCM is a living museum of urban history, where visitors can explore the ruins of a lost neighborhood and understand the social, economic, and political dynamics of past Barcelona. In addition to the archaeological site, the center has exhibition spaces that host permanent and temporary exhibitions on historical and cultural themes. One of the most significant permanent exhibitions is dedicated to the period of the War of Spanish Succession and the dramatic siege of Barcelona in 1714, an event that deeply marked the history of the city and Catalonia. This exhibition offers a rich narrative of the events through documents, objects, and testimonies, allowing visitors to relive those crucial moments.