Museu de l'Empordà

About the museum

The Museu de l'Empordà was born from the will of the city and the region to have a place where the history and artistic creativity of the Empordà could come together. Its prehistory lies in the Figueres secondary school, founded in 1839, which received donations of engravings, books and paintings, including seven pictures lent by the Museo del Prado for the training of the pupils.

Figueres City Council approved the creation of the museum in 1946. For about twenty-five years it was housed in two wings on the first floor of the Ramon Muntaner school, a former Franciscan convent, under the direction of the painter and architect Ramon Reig. During this period the Santaló (1947) and Moncanut (1962) bequests were decisive, with works by Nonell, Martí Alsina, Mir, Sunyer, Tàpies and others.

At the end of the 1960s the current building was constructed on the lower part of the Rambla, by the architect Alexandre Bonaterra. It opened in 1971, with Frederic Marés as first honorary director: he decorated the façade with reliefs and donated archaeological pieces. Later came the donations of Lewis Pellicer (1977) and of the Fàbrega couple (1982), with Catalan artists exiled in Mexico.

Today the museum holds a notable archaeological collection, a broad selection of Catalan painting of the last two centuries, deposits from the Museo del Prado, and the collection that explains the concept of the Empordà school of painting, in which Salvador Dalí stands out. It reopened in May 2025 with a renewed permanent collection.

Highlights

• Collection of the Empordà school of painting, with works by Ramon Reig, Marià Baig and Salvador Dalí
• Catalan painting of the last two hundred years (Santaló, Moncanut, Pellicer and Fàbrega bequests)
• Works on deposit from the Museo del Prado
• Archaeological collection with pieces donated by Frederic Marés
• Façade with reliefs by Frederic Marés on the Rambla of Figueres

Permanent exhibition

• Colección permanente del Museu de l'Empordà – Tour of the archaeological collection, Catalan painting of the last two centuries, the Museo del Prado deposits and the collection of the Empordà school of painting.

Founded

1946

Operated by

Ayuntamiento de Figueres

Director

Eduard Bech

Admission & discounts

Free admission: The first Sunday of each month.

Free entry also for unemployed people and members of ICOM and the Associació de Professionals de la Museologia de Catalunya. Temporary exhibitions are free to enter. With a ticket to the Teatre-Museu Dalí, admission to this museum is free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours
• Easy-to-read materials
• Audio description: no information

Access through the main door at street level and through the side door on Carrer d'Enginyers by a ramp. Lift to the auditorium and the four exhibition floors. Adapted toilet and well-lit rooms with contrasting walls and floors. Temporary exhibitions have easy-read dossiers, and activities can be offered with sign-language interpretation on prior booking.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Programme of activities for children, young people and adults, and an educational offer for schools (early years, primary and secondary). Free admission for under-18s.

Getting there & parking

By car: A-7 motorway (Barcelona–La Jonquera), exit Figueres Nord, or the N-II road from Barcelona to France.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit