Ajuntament de Sabadell

Ajuntament de Sabadell (Sabadell City Hall) is the seat of local government in Sabadell, a substantial city in Barcelona province whose growth was built on the textile trade. The building sits on Plaça de Sant Roc, also referred to as Plaça de l'Ajuntament, right at the heart of the old town.

Was this building always a town hall?

Not originally. The structure dates from 1871–1872, when it was built to house a school run by the Piarist order (Escola Pia). The city bought the property from the order in 1880, and the municipal government moved in five years later, in 1885, once the necessary adaptation works were finished.

Why does the facade look the way it does?

The current appearance is the result of two separate building campaigns decades apart. In 1888, master builder Gabriel Batllevell reworked the main facade, giving it the neoclassical look visitors see today — warm reddish tones, a pediment topped with a clock, and four Tuscan columns. A second phase followed in 1900, when architect Juli Batllevell i Arús designed the rear facade, facing Plaça del Doctor Robert. That same project turned the school's old inner courtyard into the open public square that stands behind the building today.

What should visitors look out for on the square?

Standing on Plaça de Sant Roc, it's worth comparing the two very different facades: the formal, columned front with its clock, and the later rear elevation added at the turn of the 20th century. The square itself has long functioned as a civic focal point for Sabadell, making it a sensible starting point for exploring the old town, including the buildings tied to the city's textile-manufacturing past that once earned it a reputation as a leading industrial center in Catalonia.

Can the inside of the building be visited?

Since the Ajuntament is a working municipal office, access to the interior depends on administrative opening hours and any events the city organizes there. The facade and the surrounding square, however, are open to the public at all times and are the main draw for anyone stopping by for a brief look.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly is the Ajuntament de Sabadell located? The building stands at Plaça de Sant Roc 1, in the historic center of Sabadell, a city in Barcelona province.

Is this the oldest building in the area? No — it isn't the oldest structure nearby, but the building itself is over 150 years old and has served several purposes, first as a Piarist school and later as the city's seat of government.

Who is responsible for the building's distinctive facade? The main facade was redesigned by Gabriel Batllevell in 1888, while the rear facade facing Plaça del Doctor Robert was added in 1900 by architect Juli Batllevell i Arús.

Is it worth pairing a visit with other sights in Sabadell? Yes — the town center around the Ajuntament is a good base for exploring the architecture connected to the textile industry that shaped Sabadell through the 19th and 20th centuries.