1714 — The Year That Changed Everything
On September 11, 1714, Barcelona fell after a 14-month siege in the War of the Spanish Succession. King Philip V of Bourbon abolished the Catalan institutions: no more parliament, no own laws, Catalan was banned as an official language. The district of La Ribera (now El Born) was destroyed to make way for the military citadel.
Therefore, September 11 is Catalonia's National Day (Diada) — not a celebration of victory, but a day of remembrance and resistance. Every year, hundreds of thousands demonstrate for Catalan identity.
19th Century — Industrial Revolution & Renaixença
Barcelona became the industrial capital of Spain: textile factories, a burgeoning bourgeoisie, and a cultural awakening, the Renaixença (Renaissance), which revived the Catalan language, literature, and culture. During this era, major construction projects were initiated:
- 1859: The Plan Cerdà — Ildefons Cerdà's revolutionary city plan for the Eixample: a grid pattern with chamfered corners that still shapes Barcelona's cityscape today.
- 1882: Construction began on the Sagrada Família.
- 1888: World's Fair in Parc de la Ciutadella — Barcelona's debut on the world stage.