Baluard de Migdia de Barcelona, Bastion of the city walls in Sant Pere, Santa Caterina i la Ribera, Barcelona, Spain
The Baluard de Migdia is one of the eleven bastions that reinforced Barcelona's sea wall, begun in the 16th century and completed after the 1697 siege. It is a pentagonal artillery platform with faces and a gorge, built to cover the Portal de Mar with crossfire. Its remains lie by Estació de França, partly below a modern square and visible from a panoramic balcony over the moat.
Built from the 16th century onward as one of eleven bastions reinforcing Barcelona's sea wall, the Baluard de Migdia covered the Portal de Mar. On 11 September 1714, Colonel Anton Paperoles held it with about 100 riflemen and artillerymen; he ordered the batteries to fire on the nearby barracks and stables, opening breaches for grenades, and died defending the bastion. It was rediscovered in 2008 during construction work.
The name Migdia refers to the midday sun and the bastion's southward orientation toward the sea. In the 1714 assault, Colonel Anton Paperoles and about 100 riflemen and artillerymen held the bastion until Paperoles died defending it. The site was rediscovered in 2008 during construction by Sacyr Vallehermoso, prompting calls for its preservation.
The bastion's remains lie beside Estació de França, in the Sant Pere, Santa Caterina i la Ribera neighbourhood. A panoramic balcony and an access walkway to the moat were installed during the second phase of the urbanisation of the Rodalies station grounds. The site can also be seen from the underground car park through semi-transparent panels.
Rediscovered in 2008 during construction by Sacyr Vallehermoso, the bastion drew media attention and a promise from mayor Jordi Hereu of an archaeological walk. The final buildings were built against the wall, and semi-transparent fish tanks let remains be seen only from the underground car park. A panoramic balcony and walkway to the moat came with the second phase of work by Estació de França.
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