Ourense town hall

Ourense town hall (Casa do Concello) stands on Praza Maior, the main square of Ourense in Galicia, and has served as the seat of local government for well over a century, remaining one of the most recognizable buildings in the historic centre.

How do you get there?

Praza Maior sits right in the heart of the old town, a short walk from Ourense Cathedral and the Ponte Vello bridge over the River Miño. The square is reached through the narrow streets of the historic quarter, and since the centre is largely pedestrianised, walking is the easiest way in. From the train or bus station, expect a walk of roughly 15–20 minutes, or take one of the local buses that run toward the old town.

What will you see?

The building currently standing on the square dates from 1888 and was designed by the architect Queralt, who also authored the nearby bishop's palace. The facade is classical in style and rises three storeys: the ground floor features a portico with three semicircular arches supporting the presidential balcony above, while the upper section carries a semicircular pediment bearing the city's coat of arms and the town clock.

This is not the first civic building to occupy the site. An earlier town hall was built in the 16th century, completed around 1519, laid out like a typical urban palace of its time, with an entrance hall, an interior courtyard, and a balcony on the facade. The location on Praza Maior had long been a point of friction between church and civil authorities, since the building stood on land that had previously belonged to the church. By the late 17th century, the original structure had fallen into poor condition, and the city's growing space needs led to the hiring of architect Francisco de Castro Canseco to carry out a major rebuild.

The square itself is unusual: its paved floor has a noticeable slope, a feature shared by only a handful of squares in Spain. Praza Maior is arcaded on three sides and, besides the town hall, is also home to the former episcopal palace and a row of old mansions and shops with glazed balconies and bay windows dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. One building on the square, built in a modernist style, dates from the early 20th century and stands out against the older architecture around it.

When should you visit?

Praza Maior and the town hall can be visited year-round, and the facade with its balcony and clock is particularly striking in the afternoon light, when the sun catches the portico. The square is liveliest in spring and summer, when local events and markets take over the space and cafés set up tables under the arcades. In winter, Ourense also draws visitors for its nearby thermal springs, such as Termas de Outariz, which pair well with a stroll through the old town and a stop at the square.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside Ourense town hall? The building is an active seat of local government, so the interior is not open to visitors the way a museum would be — most people view it from the outside, from Praza Maior.

Who designed the current town hall building? The 1888 facade was designed by the architect Queralt, who also designed the nearby bishop's palace.

Was there an earlier building on the same site? Yes, an earlier town hall was built in the 16th century, completed around 1519, and was later rebuilt in the 17th century by architect Francisco de Castro Canseco after the original fell into disrepair.

What else is worth seeing on Praza Maior? Alongside the town hall, the square is home to the former episcopal palace and historic mansions with 18th- and 19th-century balconies and bay windows, and the square's paving has a distinctive, noticeable slope.