The Art Nouveau Experience

Amongst the european cities, Barcelona is one of the most interesting because of its rich “Modernismo” heritage. El Palau de la musica catalana is without any doubt one jewel worth to visit and discover.

I went there in june this year and … had the chance to visit it, with a guide (it is compulsory). The guided tour of the building lasts one hour, in the language of your choice (each 1/2h there is a group <50 person – be careful it is very expensive, 17 €). There was not much people during my visit but it was not a week-end, and i did the tour in spanish when there is less people than in english (i guess that in the summer the tour is empty, with 50 people,  which may render the visitation boring).

As it is said in the site of the Palau (here) the Palau de la Música Catalana was built between 1905 and 1908 by the architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner as a home for the Orfeó Català, financed by popular subscription.

Several rooms are visited like the Lluis Millet Hall here after :

This is a meeting place in intermissions dedicated to Maestro Millet, the founder of the Orfeó Català. The hall is two storeys high, with great stained glass windows decorated with floral designs, giving an extraordinary effect.

The Organ on the concert auditorium

The most interesting is sure the concert auditorium, which is really really AMAZING.

This is one of the most distinctive in the world – has for over a hundred years been the privileged setting for the musical life, both national and international, of the city of Barcelona.

To reach the Lluis Millet Hall and the upper seats of the Auditorium there are magnificent stairs, mixing art nouveau and impressive XIXe century style.

The principal hall entrance with its stairs

I found the tour interesting ; the guide explains the story of the building, of the choral company, the concerts, some information regarding the architect Domenech i Montaner and some details of the building or the artcrafts used, etc.

If you don’t visit the Palau, you must at least see it from outside, since the facade is really interesting and … extravagant, and you can go into the cafeteria to drink something or eat some tapas ; this is really a pleasant place.

I believe the best is to see a concert.  I shall post another article in the future regarding the details of this place, or maybe on the exterior facade, or the architect…

For more picture (which are not mine, please go there, and there), and for a list of modernismo buildings to visit in Barcelona go there.

My next post shall be about another masterpiece of Domenech i Montaner, el instituto Pere Mata in Reus (Catalunya) which i visited last summer.

If you have good pics of details of the Palau Catala, please send me… unfortunately i do not have much… Thanks.