Museu de les Aigües
Museum of the water cycle in the modernist buildings of the Central Cornellà, with a permanent exhibition, an air-raid shelter and the Cascada Gaudí.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Museu de les Aigües occupies one of the modernist buildings of the Central Cornellà, an industrial complex with more than a hundred years of history that bears the marks of several architects, from Josep Amargós i Samaranch to Antoni Gaudí. It explains the full water cycle and its role in the social and urban development of Barcelona and its metropolitan area. It is a space of the Fundació Agbar, linked to Aigües de Barcelona, a company founded in 1867.
The permanent exhibition, “L'aigua: l'impuls de la ciutat”, is in the building designed by Amargós i Samaranch, where the original machinery coexists with the current equipment, and it traces the techniques and challenges of supplying water to Barcelona and its surroundings. The route also includes the exhibition “Català-Roca, pels camins de l'aigua”.
Other spaces in the museum include the Civil War air-raid shelter, built to protect the plant's staff during the bombing; the Àgora, a former reservoir that operated between 1954 and 2004 and is now a multipurpose space; and the gardens, where the Cascada Gaudí stands out. This was one of the architect's early works, created for the Casa Vicens, which was demolished after part of the land was sold in 1945 and was rebuilt in 2019 in the museum, the difference being that the water is now recycled. The museum also holds the historical archive of the Sociedad General de Aguas de Barcelona, which may be consulted by appointment.
Highlights
- Permanent exhibition “L'aigua: l'impuls de la ciutat”
- Modernist buildings of the Central Cornellà
- Cascada Gaudí, rebuilt in 2019
- Civil War air-raid shelter
- Historical archive of the Sociedad General de Aguas de Barcelona
Permanent exhibitions
- L'aigua: l'impuls de la ciutat – Route through the techniques and challenges of supplying water to Barcelona and its surroundings, with original hydraulic machinery and hands-on experiments with tools.
- Refugio antiaéreo de Cornellà – Civil War shelter excavated to protect the plant's staff during the bombing, now displayed within the museum.
- Founded
- 2004
- Operated by
- Fundació Agbar
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €2.50People aged 16 to 29, people over 65, holders of the large family card, holders of the Biblioteques de Barcelona card, groups of ten or more people and students (with proof of status) |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 15 · Under-16s: free admission. |
| Seniors | €2.50Over 65, with proof of status. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission with the Generalitat disability card and one companion. |
| Students & apprentices | €2.50With proof of status. |
| Groups (10+ people) | €2.50 per personGroups of ten or more people. |
Free admission: First Sunday of each month (open day).
Free admission also for members of ICOM and the Associació de Museòlegs de Catalunya, practising professional tourist guides, accredited teachers, journalists and holders of the free pink card. Guided talks and activities take place on Sundays and on special dates.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials
- Audio description: no information
The website states that the space is accessible by wheelchair and offers preparatory guides with pictograms and in easy-read format.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided talks are scheduled on Sundays and special dates. The museum offers educational activities and educational services for schools. |
