Relaxation: perfect shaded benches to sit and enjoy a few moments with yourself; nature: millions of plants of different types, in perfect harmony; music: both well-known bands and artists just starting in the world of music liven up the evenings; art: different unique exhibitions, colorful lanterns, and various drawing and painting techniques. All this you can find in the Palau Robert, a jewel of Barcelona city.
Stunning architecture and magical gardens at Palau Robert
The Palau Robert is located at number 107 of Passeig de Gràcia, on the corner of Avinguda Diagonal, in Barcelona city. It was built between 1898 and 1903 as the private residence of Robert Robert I Surís, better known as the Marquis of Robert, a very influential aristocrat at the time, a Catalan financier and politician of Girona origin.
The building today belongs to the Generalitat de Catalunya and houses a cultural center, consisting of three exhibition halls, a large space for concerts, a bookstore, the Information Center of Catalonia, a tourist office of the city, and beautiful gardens open to the public.
The Palau Robert is a perfect model of neoclassical architecture, built with stone from the Montgrí massif. The project was awarded by competition to the French architect Henri Grandpierre, the works were directed by the architect Joan Martorell between 1898 and 1903.
It is a rectangular construction articulated around an open inner courtyard with a skylight. Its classicist style is far from the modernism common at the time.
In 1904 it received a mention in the Annual Competition for Artistic Buildings organized by the Barcelona City Council.
The garden was created by the municipal gardener Ramón Oliva, who also designed the gardens of Plaza de Cataluña shortly afterward. Many of the palm trees that harmonize the garden came from the Universal Exposition of Barcelona in 1888. With benches in the shade of beautiful trees perfect for relaxing, make this place an ideal place to rest and escape from the hustle and bustle of reality.
In 2003, the architect Silvia Farriol remodeled the former garages and garden. The old spaces proposed for storing the cars were transformed into two multipurpose rooms. The wall on Carrer de Córsega was demolished and replaced by a fence that allows a view of the garden from the street. The furniture was designed by Miguel Milà and the design was by Bet Figueras, a landscape architect.
History of Palau Robert
Marquis Robert, sadly, died in 1929 and his death led the family to try to make money from the palace by selling it. After the devastating events of the Civil War, a partnership was established to convert it into a hotel with a showroom but unfortunately, it was never realized.
Later, around the eighties, it became the property of the Generalitat de Catalunya.
After several functions, it finally opened at the end of the nineties as the cultural center that we all know today. In this amazing building, we can find a tourist information center. Its garden is open to the public and receives visitors every day.
Art and culture in Palau Robert
Large, small, but none of them is permanent: the collections on display at the Palau Robert are exposed addressing all kinds of topics such as photography, science, fashion, politics, in short, a world of topics that appeal to all audiences interested in art.
Solidarity exhibitions and concerts are often organized at the Palau Robert.
Musical evenings at the Palau Robert
Evenings at the Palau Robert are often enlivened with the music of different genres. Here have been presented both recognized figures and newcomers in search of fame, some of these stars are:
- The Arjau group of habaneras
- The band A Contra Blues
- The former singer of Ojos de Brujo, Marina, and one of the reference guitarists of flamenco, Chicuelo. They presented their first musical work: Sintonías.
- The Catalan pop-rock group Teràpia de Shock
Useful information when you visit Palau Robert
The Palau Robert is normally open Monday through Saturday, from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm, this schedule varies on Sundays and holidays, which are from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm. Admission is completely free of charge. They also have a viable option for our technology lovers: You can find an application available for smartphones in Catalan, Spanish, and English.
There you will be able to find all kinds of useful information such as the historical review, some explanation about the different exhibitions and of course, information that will be useful for you. One of the outstanding services of Palau is that it has complete accessibility for people with mobility difficulties. For more info, we recommend checking on the website of the Generalitat about Palau Robert.
Now that you know the Palau Robert, its exhibitions, and its fun-filled nights, are you gonna miss it?
See you in my next post
Bye-Bye
