{"id":22644,"date":"2018-09-21T11:48:30","date_gmt":"2018-09-21T10:48:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/studandglobe.com\/la-merce-fete-mythique-barcelone-pas-manquer\/"},"modified":"2026-06-15T09:54:56","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T08:54:56","slug":"la-merce-fete-barcelone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/studandglobe.com\/en\/blog\/la-merce-fete-barcelone\/","title":{"rendered":"La Merc\u00e8: the legendary Barcelona festival you can\u2019t miss"},"content":{"rendered":"
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La Merc\u00e8: the legendary Barcelona festival you can\u2019t miss<\/span><\/h1>\n

Are you doing an internship in Barcelona<\/strong> and have you been hearing about La Merc\u00e8<\/strong> for the past few weeks?<\/p>\n

Good news: you\u2019re about to experience the city\u2019s biggest street festival. Several days of shows, concerts, parades, fireworks, flaming dragons and human towers. All completely free.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the one event you absolutely cannot miss when you live in Barcelona.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s everything you need to know to enjoy La Merc\u00e8 in Barcelona<\/strong> like a true local.<\/p>\n

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\ud83c\udf0e APPLY FOR YOUR FUTURE INTERNSHIP IN BARCELONA <\/a><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<\/section>\n<\/header>\n<\/header>\n<\/header>\n<\/article>\n<\/header>\n

The myth to forget: \u201cit\u2019s just a religious festival\u201d<\/span><\/h2>\n

This is the number one mistake students make when they arrive in Catalonia.<\/p>\n

La Merc\u00e8<\/strong> has religious roots: according to legend, the Virgin of La Merc\u00e8 saved Barcelona from a locust invasion in the 17th century. She became the patron saint of the city in the 19th century, and the current festival took shape at the beginning of the 20th century.<\/p>\n

But today? La Merc\u00e8<\/strong> is above all THE major secular festival of Barcelona. Concerts, shows, Catalan traditions, street celebrations, local pride. Everyone takes part, whether they are religious or not.<\/p>\n

When does La Merc\u00e8 take place?<\/span><\/h2>\n

La Merc\u00e8<\/strong> takes place every year around September 24th, the day of Barcelona\u2019s patron saint.<\/p>\n

In practice: several days of festivities, usually between September 20th and 24th, with a packed programme from morning until midnight.<\/p>\n

September 24th is a public holiday in Barcelona, so even your colleagues will be out in the streets.<\/p>\n

The official programme is published every year on the Barcelona.cat website<\/a>. We recommend checking it one week before so you can plan your days.<\/p>\n

1. The Castells: human towers<\/span><\/h2>\n

Listed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, castells<\/strong> are human towers that can reach up to 10 levels.<\/p>\n

How does it work?<\/h3>\n