Casa de la Vila de Cerdanyola del Vallès

Casa de la Vila de Cerdanyola del Vallès is the town hall of Cerdanyola del Vallès, a town in the Vallès Occidental region located just a short distance from Barcelona. The building stands on Francesc Layret square, right in the town centre, and ranks among the finest examples of Noucentista architecture in the area.

What is the history behind the building?

Cerdanyola's first town hall occupied a much more modest house on Sant Ramon street, built in the second half of the nineteenth century. As the town grew, the local government commissioned a new, more representative civic building. The current Casa de la Vila was designed by architect Eduard Balcells in 1920, with construction completed in 1922. A further phase of work took place between 1945 and 1947, when a new rectangular wing was added and decorated with ceramic panels, a finishing touch typical of Catalan craftsmanship of the period.

What does the town hall look like?

The building has two storeys — a ground floor and an upper floor — under a tiled roof. The main façade follows a symmetrical layout: the ground floor features a portico with three round-arched doorways, while the floor above holds a balustraded terrace with three openings decorated in sgraffito, a technique using layered, coloured plaster with a scratched-in pattern. Above the central window sits the town's coat of arms, rendered in tile with sgraffito framing and bearing the Latin motto "Facta non verba" ("deeds, not words"). This combination of Noucentista symmetry with decorative ceramic detailing makes the building a distinctive landmark on the town's main square.

Why is Casa de la Vila worth a visit?

For anyone interested in early twentieth-century Catalan architecture, the building is a solid example of Noucentisme — the movement that followed Modernisme (the Catalan branch of Art Nouveau) and favoured order, symmetry and classical references, while still keeping local decorative motifs such as sgraffito and glazed tile. Casa de la Vila is listed in the Inventory of Architectural Heritage of Catalonia, which confirms its historical and artistic value. Francesc Layret square, where the building stands, works well as a starting point for exploring Cerdanyola's centre — it's worth pausing here before heading toward the nearby MAC art museum or other historic spots in town.

How do you get to Casa de la Vila?

Cerdanyola del Vallès sits within the Barcelona metropolitan area and is well connected to the city; the town has its own railway station, from which the centre — and the town hall — is a short walk of a few minutes. Drivers can reach Cerdanyola via the local roads linking it to Barcelona and other towns in Vallès Occidental. Francesc Layret square itself is easily reached on foot from most points in the town centre.

When is the best time to visit?

The building is mainly seen from the outside, as part of the square's urban fabric, so the season doesn't make much difference. The best light for photographing the façade — especially the sgraffito detailing and the coat of arms — comes in the early morning or late afternoon, when the low sun highlights the reliefs. It's worth avoiding midday during the hot summer months, when harsh overhead light flattens the decorative detail.

Frequently asked questions

Can tourists go inside Casa de la Vila? The building functions as the town's administrative offices, so interior access is limited to office hours and official business. The façade and the square can be viewed freely at any time of day.

Who designed the building? It was designed in 1920 by architect Eduard Balcells, working in the Noucentista style.

What does the motto on the coat of arms mean? Above the central window of the façade is the town's coat of arms bearing the Latin motto "Facta non verba", meaning "deeds, not words".

Is the building protected as a heritage site? Yes, Casa de la Vila de Cerdanyola del Vallès is listed in the Inventory of Architectural Heritage of Catalonia.