New arrivals
spring-summer 2025
4 min 25. 04. 25
One could say that La Foixarda tunnel is the European epicenter of urban climbing. This kind of a climbing has exploded in the last few decades, and this spot in Barcelona’s Montjuïc hill has became one of the most iconic in the world.
It all kicked off with a guy you might actually run into there - Manolo “El Heavy” Sánchez. Back in the early ‘90s, this tunnel was just an unremarkable underpass that most people avoided. The nearby quarry was sketchy, crawling with shady characters, and getting caught in a gang scuffle wasn’t out of the question.
WHEN BARCELONA HELD THE 1992 OLYMPICS, THE CITY CRACKED DOWN ON CRIME, CLEARED OUT THE TROUBLEMAKERS, AND STATIONED CITY GUARD HERE TO KEEP THINGS UNDER CONTROL.
That’s when El Heavy and his crew showed up. The guy earned his nickname not just because he’s a metalhead, but because he carried around a five-kilo drill, which he used to turn this grimy hole into one of the most legendary climbing spots in the city. Of course, bolting in a public tunnel wasn’t exactly legal, so most of the work had to happen at night, dodging the city guards. El Heavy would spend hours dangling from the ceiling, bolting routes like a bat, heading home only at sunrise. No wonder there is a stone carving of a vampire above the tunnel entrance. El Heavy sums up those days pretty well:
"I'D SPEND THE WHOLE NIGHT BOLTING AND LEAVE WHEN THE SUN CAME UP. HAD TO STAY OUT OF SIGHT OF THE CITY COPS - AFTER 10 PM, THEY DIDN'T PATROL AS MUCH. IN THE END, I WAS BASICALLY A VAMPIRE, ALWAYS HANGING UPSIDE DOWN AND HEADING HOME AT DAWN."
La Foixarda is 55 meters long and 5.5 meters high. Over the years, El Heavy has bolted over 9,000 holds, setting more than 150 routes. You’ll find everything here, means traverses, roofs, and vertical walls, both inside the tunnel and on the surrounding space. One of the best things? You don’t even need a partner. You can spend hours traversing solo, getting the ultimate pump. There’s a mix of difficulties, but keep in mind that Spanish grades (and sometimes the bolting) can be a bit sandbagged. The route setting here reflects that classic Spanish attitude: bold, wild, and not always perfectly safe.
LOCALS CALL EACH OTHER "LOLOS", BASICALLY CRUSHERS, SO DON'T EXPECT SOFT GRADES."
Don’t be surprised if a route feels way harder than its grade or some bolts might make you think twice. That being said, there are some gems here. One of the more memorable routes is “Vacuna Matata”, which El Heavy bolted during COVID with syringe-shaped and virus-shaped holds. So even in tough times, climbing here is always about having a good laugh.
La Foixarda has a vibe all its own. Crash pads, camp chairs, backpacks, drink cans, it’s all part of the scene. The regulars are a tight crew, but newcomers are welcome. The only ones who get side-eyed? Tourists who stop by just to gawk instead of climb. This place attracts everyone - beginners, crushers, even pro climbers looking for a unique training ground.
It’s a great spot to meet people, maybe even find a crew to take you out to the real Catalan crags. And if you’re lucky, you might just bump into the vampire himself, El Heavy. When to come? Anytime. It’s free, open 24/7, and nobody’s gonna tell you to leave. And if, for some reason, you get bored (which is pretty much impossible), right next to the tunnel is Barcelona’s biggest indoor gym, Climbat de Foixarda. But that’s a story for another day.
