MUHBA Refugi 307 is a preserved air-raid shelter in Barcelona’s Poble-sec district, at the foot of Montjuïc. Built during the Spanish Civil War, its narrow underground tunnels show how residents sought protection from bombing and include features such as a water fountain, toilets and an infirmary. A guided visit explains the shelter’s construction and later history, including how people used its spaces after the war. Tours run on Sunday mornings, so book ahead and bring a light jacket for the cool tunnels.
A shelter built by Barcelona residents
Refugi 307 is one of more than a thousand air-raid shelters built in Barcelona during the Spanish Civil War, from 1936 to 1939. It was excavated by residents of the Poble-sec district as bombing put civilians at risk. The site is now part of the Museu d’Història de Barcelona, or MUHBA.
The underground route extends for nearly 400 metres. Its low, narrow passages make the shelter’s purpose clear: people came below ground for protection during attacks. The tunnels are not a furnished museum in the usual sense. Their rough walls and confined spaces are part of what visitors encounter on the route.
What the route reveals
The shelter had practical facilities for people waiting underground. Along the passages, the visit takes in a water fountain, toilets and an infirmary. There were also spaces for children and a fireplace. These details give a sense of how the site was arranged for civilian use, beyond its role as a place to take cover.
The route also helps explain the contrast between the shelter’s basic surroundings and the needs of the people who gathered there. The guided visit places the tunnels in the wider context of Barcelona’s network of shelters and the bombing of the city. It provides an introduction to the Spanish Civil War, so visitors do not need to arrive with specialist knowledge.
The shelter after the war
Refugi 307’s story continued after the conflict. The tunnels were extended under Franco, and some spaces were later used by merchants and families in difficult circumstances. A guide can explain this later use alongside the shelter’s construction and wartime role.
The guided format matters here: explanations connect individual features of the tunnels with the lives and events associated with them. There is time to hear about the site and ask questions as the group moves through the passages. The visit is about an hour or a little longer, making it a focused stop for travelers interested in Barcelona’s Civil War history.
Preguntas frecuentes
How do you visit MUHBA Refugi 307?
You need to book a guided tour to enter the shelter. Tours take place on Sunday mornings, with limited availability by language.
How long does a visit take?
Allow about an hour to an hour and a half for the guided visit.
What can you see inside Refugi 307?
The underground route includes a water fountain, toilets, an infirmary, a children’s area and a fireplace.
Are the tunnels suitable for people with claustrophobia?
The passages are narrow and underground. Consider whether confined spaces will be comfortable for you before booking.
