Molins de Rei Municipal Museum

Molins de Rei Municipal Museum is the local history museum of Molins de Rei, a town in the Baix Llobregat region of Catalonia, a short distance from Barcelona. It gathers and displays material connected to the town's history, culture and craft traditions, with its permanent exhibition housed at number 55, Carrer Pintor Fortuny.

What kind of museum is this?

It is a municipal history museum belonging to the Barcelona Provincial Council Local Museum Network, a group of town-level museums maintained across the province. It was founded in 1953 and has since built up a picture of daily life, trades and craftsmanship in Molins de Rei and the neighbouring areas closest to it. Given the town's long-standing position on the Llobregat river, much of that story is tied to riverside industry and local manufacturing traditions.

Where is the collection displayed?

The permanent collection is housed in the museum's central building at Carrer Pintor Fortuny, 55, right in the middle of town. Alongside this, the museum runs a separate temporary exhibition space at Ca n'Ametller, a historic building that is planned to eventually become the museum's main home. This two-site setup — a fixed collection in one location and rotating themed exhibitions in another — lets the museum keep its programme fresh without disturbing the core holdings.

Why visit?

For anyone exploring Baix Llobregat beyond central Barcelona, this museum offers a direct, unpretentious look at what shaped Molins de Rei — its trades, its people, its everyday material culture. It is not a large institution, and that is part of its appeal: the focus stays local rather than broad, giving a concrete sense of place rather than a generalized regional overview. A visit tends to be brief, making it an easy addition to a day spent around the town.

How do you get to Molins de Rei?

The town sits in the Llobregat valley and is well connected to Barcelona by the Rodalies regional rail network, keeping travel time from the city center short. The museum building on Carrer Pintor Fortuny is within the town centre itself, an easy walk from Molins de Rei's main streets and squares.

Frequently asked questions

When was the museum founded? It was established in 1953 and has documented the local history of Molins de Rei ever since.

Where can I see the permanent exhibition? The permanent exhibition is at Carrer Pintor Fortuny, 55, in the town centre.

What is Ca n'Ametller? It is the building currently used for the museum's temporary exhibitions, and the site planned to become its permanent home in the future.

Is the museum part of a wider network? Yes — it belongs to the Barcelona Provincial Council's Local Museum Network, which links similar town-level museums across the province.