Following the idea of showcasing the best museums and places to visit with kids in Barcelona, Museu Blau (the Blue Museum), a part of the Natural History Museum of Barcelona, is under the spotlight this time. Featuring the life of and on our Planet Earth since the very beginning up to today, the museum is just the right place to not only entertain yourself and the children but also engage their interest in science and the world surrounding us.
Museu de les Ciències Naturals or the Natural History Museum of Barcelona is a famous museum network, combining four centers in the city:
- the Martorell Museum
- the Laboratory of Nature
- the Montjuïc Botanical Garden
- Museu Blau
The most popular out of the four is most likely the Museu Blau, named after the blue color of the extravagant building it’s located in.
Without a doubt an architectural jewel
The vast 9000 m² building (known as the Forum Building) which houses the museum, is worth seeing on its’ own. The massive blue triangular shaped building is an architectural masterpiece of Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron, who won the competition to design the building as the main venue for Forum Universal de les Cultures. The unique cracked shape of the building, its’ texture, color and details result in a contrasting look of it, astounding and captivating the admirer.
Inside is what matters
The inside of the Forum Building is just as much (if not more) of a treat as the outside. The Museu Blau features a permanent exhibition “Planet Life”, which covers the progress of our planet since the beginning to the present.
The “Planet Life” exhibition covers three distinct topics in these sections:
- The Big Bang. The first part of the exhibition features the beginning of our universe explained with the help of multimedia and other technological installations.
- Biography of Earth. The second part is a journey through time capturing the history and evolution of Planet Earth since the very first livings appeared.
- Earth Today. The final part of the “Planet Life” exhibition celebrates the life in our planet nowadays, featuring various examples of it in the forms of rocks, minerals, fossils, stuffed animals and so on.
Making it even more attractive for everyone, the museum offers a free activity for the little ones (up to 6 years old) called “Science nest”. Demonstrating the youngsters how each element is connected creating a sort of a nest, this area is designed to encourage the little ones’ interest in science in a fun and entertaining way. The sessions last 30 min and are carried out on weekends (Saturdays from 11 PM to 14 PM, Sundays from 11 PM to 14 PM and from 16 PM to 19 PM).
Besides the permanent “Planet Life” exhibition, you can also find temporary exhibitions, which usually cover a similar field of natural history and science. The Forum Building houses an auditorium, a media library, a restaurant, and administration offices as well.
For the opening times, admission fees and more information, visit the official website.
