Encants

A market with charm

This station was christened with the name of the popular market of this area, Los Encants Vells. In said market, with more than 900 shopkeepers and where there exists a strong relationship between buyer and seller and the culture of haggling is alive and kicking, one is reminded of the village markets of yore. “Los Encantes”, (The Enchantments), also known as the Fira de Bellcaire or (Bellcaire Fair) was established in the fourteenth century, making it one of Europe’s oldest markets and clearly reflecting Barcelona’s commercial drive. One can both buy used as well as brand new goods.
One could be lead into thinking that the root of the word encant (enchantment) derives from the form by which in the olden days the value of merchandise was made known, “in chanting”, i.e. singing. In this case, however, it corresponds to a variation of the French word enquant, which means “how much”. Bellcaire’s origin, on the other hand, does have several theories. Some say it derives from the city of Languedoc, by the name of Beaucaire, where during the eighteenth century a yearly fair for used goods was held. Others, mistakenly, attribute the name to the word by which things that were found in markets were called “de caire vell” or “of old look/aspect”

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The neighbors recommend

Restaurante ACHÉ PERÚ carrer de Los Castillejos, 208 Phone 935 078 587 Aché, which means “luck”, is a homely restaurant that offers the best of Cuban cuisine. They have a permanent show of paintings by several Cuban artists. Restaurante PIZZERIA MISERIA E NOBILTÀ carrer dels Enamorats, 112 Phone 935 009 968 http://miseriaenobilta.es.tl The service at this pizza parlor is superb. They bake their pizzas in a wooden oven and are served by the Italian owner. GRANJA ARMENGOL carrer de Provença, 493 Phone 934 501 510 www.granjaarmengol.com One of the shops that the farm in Vic (“Mas Pujol de Gurb”) is going to open in different cities. Here you could find natural and homemade products and they’re all dairy products such as yoghurt, flan, cream and cheese… delicious!

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Places of interest

NATIONAL THEATER OF CATALUNYA (TNC) plaça de les Arts, 1 Phone 933 065 700 www.tnc.cat This building was designed by the shop of architecture Ricardo Bofill. Guided tours available by reservation only. Here you could enjoy shows or eat in one of the restaurants inside. L’AUDITORI carrer de Lepant, 150 Phone 932 479 300 www.auditori.cat This public cultural facility is one of the most important in the city. It is possible to reach it and also the Teatro Nacional (National Theatre) from other metro stations too. HORTS SAGRADA FAMÍLIA carrer de Padilla, 201 It is the first urban orchard-garden in the district of the Ensanche, with 20 plots. Two of them have been allocated to environmental education.

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Services

FARINERA DEL CLOT Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 837 Phone 932 918 080 www.farinera.org The only record that we have in the city of the ancient flavour’s factories in Barcelona. Inside you can still find some machineries that were used in the past. Nowadays is a cultural center where you can find different activities. LIBRARY SAGRADA FAMÍLIA Carrer de Provença, 480 Phone 934 508 917 www.ccsagradafamilia.net Three floors library that offers services for every age. It’s also the venue of a community center with workshops and activities open to the public. Visit the web page.

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