Ajuntament de les Franqueses del Vallès

Ajuntament de les Franqueses del Vallès is the town hall of the municipality of Les Franqueses del Vallès, standing in Corró d'Avall, one of the villages that make up this Catalan municipality in the province of Barcelona, in the Vallès Oriental region. The building is one of the most distinctive examples of Catalan Modernisme in this part of the region and still serves as the seat of local government today.

What does the town hall in Corró d'Avall look like?

The building dates back to 1912 and was designed by architect Albert Juan i Torner. From the outside it reads as a single, unified structure, but it is actually made up of three entirely separate bodies. The central and most imposing section houses the town hall itself — a symmetrical, three-storey volume topped by a bell tower crowned with a glazed ceramic-tile dome and a pyramidal metal spire. On either side sit two lower, single-storey wings that originally housed the local schools, with the former teachers' residences at the outer ends of the complex.

Why was it built outside the old village centre?

The site was chosen deliberately. The municipality of Les Franqueses del Vallès was formed by joining several previously separate villages, and the plot for the new town hall was picked away from the historic core of Corró d'Avall so that it would sit at a neutral, convenient point for residents of every village within the municipality.

What architectural style is it?

The building belongs to Catalan Modernisme, the regional strand of Art Nouveau that shaped many public and residential buildings across Catalonia at the turn of the 20th century. Here it shows up most clearly in the richly decorated bell tower, the use of coloured ceramic tiling, and a facade that is symmetrical yet ornamental in detail.

What's worth noticing on site?

The bell tower and its glazed dome are the building's most photogenic feature, visible from a distance and acting as a landmark within Corró d'Avall. The layout is also worth a second look: what appears to be one continuous facade actually conceals three independent structures, a detail that isn't obvious at first glance.

Because the building still functions as the seat of the local administration, visits are best planned on weekdays, when the offices are open and the building is in everyday use. It's worth keeping in mind that this is an active public institution rather than a museum, so access to the interior is generally limited to the areas used for public administrative services.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Les Franqueses del Vallès town hall located? In Corró d'Avall, one of the villages within the municipality of Les Franqueses del Vallès, in the province of Barcelona, Vallès Oriental region.

When was the building constructed? It was built in 1912.

Who designed it? The architect was Albert Juan i Torner.

What architectural style does it represent? Catalan Modernisme, visible especially in the ceramic-domed bell tower and the ornamental facade.

Can visitors go inside? The building is an active town hall, so interior access is generally limited to the public service areas during office hours.

Why does it stand outside the old village centre? The site was chosen as a neutral, convenient location for residents of all the villages that make up the municipality.