Granollers Museum

The Granollers Museum is the municipal museum of Granollers, a town in the Vallès Oriental region near Barcelona. Its collection spans archaeology, decorative arts, ethnography, numismatics and works of ancient, modern and contemporary art, making it one of the more rewarding stops for anyone curious about the region's layered history.

What will you see inside?

The museum brings several disciplines together under one roof. The archaeological section presents finds documenting settlement in Vallès Oriental from the earliest periods through the Middle Ages. Separate displays cover decorative objects and everyday items used by past inhabitants of the region, while the numismatic collection traces the coinage that circulated locally over time. Rounding out the collection are pieces of ancient, modern and contemporary art, so the exhibition programme shifts more often than at a typical archaeology museum.

The institution also plays an active research role: it coordinates and supports archaeological excavations carried out across Vallès Oriental, with material from these digs eventually entering the permanent collection. The museum belongs to the local museum network overseen by the Barcelona Provincial Council, a structure that allows it to cooperate with other regional institutions and share pieces between collections.

A separate attraction managed by the museum is L'Adoberia, an interpretation centre dedicated to the medieval history of Granollers. Here you can learn about the town's historic layout, its tanning trade (which gives the building its name), and daily life in the Middle Ages. Since the two sites tell complementary parts of the same story, it's worth planning a visit to both on the same day.

How do you get to the Granollers Museum?

Granollers sits a short distance from Barcelona and is well served by regional trains, making it a popular day-trip destination from the Catalan capital. The museum itself is located in the town centre, within walking distance of the train station, so it's an easy addition to an itinerary for visitors without a car. Drivers will find parking available around the centre.

When should you visit?

The museum is open year-round, and its modest scale means queues are rarely an issue, even during the tourist season. Timing a visit around a local market or town event is a good idea — Granollers is known for its regular civic gatherings, which bring the centre to life and show the town from a different angle than the museum galleries alone. A visit to the collection itself typically takes an hour to two hours, depending on whether you also stop at L'Adoberia.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Granollers Museum collection include? The collection covers archaeology, decorative arts, ethnography, numismatics, and works of ancient, modern and contemporary art, combining the role of a historical institution with that of an art museum.

What is L'Adoberia, and is it part of the same museum? L'Adoberia is an interpretation centre focused on the medieval history of Granollers, managed by the Granollers Museum. It occupies a separate building but is best visited together with the main museum, since the two exhibitions complement each other.

Does the museum also carry out research? Yes — it coordinates and supports archaeological excavations across the Vallès Oriental region, and material recovered from these digs is later added to the museum's collection.

What's the easiest way to reach Granollers from Barcelona? Granollers is well connected to Barcelona by regional train, making it a convenient day trip. The museum is located in the town centre, within walking distance of the station.