In the very heart of Barcelona, at Glòries Square, stands a monument that rarely attracts the attention of passersby, yet holds great significance for world science. This steel sculpture, installed in 1992, was a gift from the French city of Dunkerque to mark the bicentennial of the historic measurements that led to the creation of the metric system.
The monument’s history dates back to the late 18th century, when Europe faced chaos in systems of weights and measures. Different countries and even regions used their own units, complicating trade and scientific research. French scientists proposed creating a universal system, and it was decided that the length of a meter would be defined as one ten-millionth of a quarter of the Earth’s meridian.
In 1792, astronomer Pierre Méchain arrived in Barcelona to conduct precise geodetic measurements. His task was to determine the distance between Barcelona and Dunkerque—two cities located on the same meridian line. Together with his colleague Jean-Baptiste Delambre, Méchain carried out complex calculations that formed the foundation of the new system of measurement.
In Barcelona, strategic points were chosen for observations: the bell tower of the Cathedral, the port lighthouse, and the Montjuïc fortress. Traces of this work can still be found in the city as a reminder of the Catalan capital’s contribution to scientific progress. Despite technical difficulties, political upheavals, and even personal challenges—Méchain had to conduct measurements from the roof of a hotel on Escudellers street and suffered a long illness—the project was completed six years later.
In 1799, France officially adopted the metric system, which later spread worldwide and became the foundation for modern scientific and engineering calculations. This move was one of the landmark achievements of the Enlightenment, laying the groundwork for international collaboration in science.
Two centuries later, in 1992, when Barcelona hosted the Olympic Games, Dunkirk presented the city with a monument in memory of their joint scientific mission. The steel sculpture symbolizes the profile of the terrain between the two cities and was named “Meridià”. Originally installed at the traffic roundabout in Plaça de les Glòries, after reconstruction it returned to the renewed public space, where it now fits seamlessly into the cityscape.
The monument is aligned with the line of Meridian Avenue (Avinguda Meridiana), designed by architect Ildefons Cerdà to follow the direction of the meridian. Despite its historical significance, the monument often goes unnoticed by both locals and visitors. Yet it serves as a reminder that Barcelona was one of the key sites in establishing the system used worldwide today.
This monument is not just an element of the urban landscape but a reminder of a time when scientific discoveries changed the course of history. It stands as evidence of how international cooperation and the pursuit of precision enabled humanity to agree on unified standards that still shape our daily lives.
