Masnou town hall

El Masnou town hall sits in the heart of this coastal town in the Maresme region, a short train ride north of Barcelona, and still houses the local municipal government today. Standing at the junction of two streets in the old town, the building is listed as a cultural asset of local interest.

Why did El Masnou need its own town hall?

El Masnou became a fully independent municipality in 1825, having previously been governed as part of a neighbouring town. The new council, however, had nowhere official to meet: sessions were held either at the rectory or in the private homes of the mayor and the town secretary. Minutes from 1834 record a very practical headache this caused — neighbours living close to the secretary's house could overhear council debates, and sometimes interfered with them. A dedicated, purpose-built town hall had become a clear necessity.

Who built it, and how was it paid for?

Mayor Joan Rubí commissioned the project in 1844, choosing architect Miquel Garriga i Roca to design it. The plot itself had a longer history: it belonged to land acquired by the Gaspar Malet family back in 1755. Paying for construction required a typical mix of local financing tools for the period — a committee of lenders and a neighbourhood council were formed, with the sailors' guild supplying most of the capital through loans that the town then repaid gradually over the following years.

What does the building look like?

The town hall has an irregular, roughly box-like footprint, shaped by the two streets it sits between rather than by a symmetrical plan — typical of a building slotted into an already-established old town. The architect concentrated the design effort on the façade, which mirrors the three storeys behind it and reads as three vertical sections. The entrance is marked by a semicircular arched doorway, flanked on either side by decorative terracotta reliefs. It's a modest scale overall, but the façade's careful proportions make the building stand out among its neighbours without overpowering the surrounding streetscape.

Can visitors go inside, and how do you get there?

The building still works as a functioning town hall, so it isn't set up as a museum with visiting hours for the interior — what draws visitors is the façade itself and its setting in the old quarter. El Masnou sits right on the coast, so a stop here pairs easily with a walk along the seafront promenade or beach. The easiest way in from Barcelona is the R1 commuter train line; the station is a short walk from the town centre where the town hall stands.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is El Masnou town hall located? In the old town centre, at the corner of two streets, within easy walking distance of the seafront promenade.

Who designed the building? Architect Miquel Garriga i Roca, commissioned by mayor Joan Rubí in 1844.

Can you visit the inside? It's an active municipal building, so interior access is limited to the council's normal office hours rather than tourist visiting times.

Is the town hall a protected building? Yes, it's listed as a cultural asset of local interest, recognising its historical and architectural value to the town.