New exhibition at the MUHBA: Valldaura, from a medieval palace to a research centre
A new exhibition at MUHBA Vil·la Joana reveals the secrets of Valldaura, from a medieval hunting palace to a research centre.
The exhibition will remain in the Collserola building until February 2025 and will subsequently be installed in Cerdanyola del Vallès.
On Saturday 30th November at 11.30am, the exhibition “Valldaura, 1150-2025: A history of monks, kings, nobles, industrialists and researchers” will open at the MUHBA Vil·la Joana, an exhibition curated by the architect Vicente Guallart and the economist and historian Robert Álvarez that invites you to explore the fascinating history of this unique place located in the Collserola Park.
The exhibition will be open until February 2025 and will subsequently move to Cerdanyola del Vallès and several districts of Barcelona, such as Horta, Nou Barris, Gràcia and Sant Andreu, closely linked to its history.
"Valldaura, 1150-2025: A story of monks, kings, nobles, industrialists and researchers" explores how this place, the origin of the first Cistercian monastery in Catalonia, has witnessed centuries of transformation. Founded in 1150, the monastery was the cradle of the Cistercian order until the monks moved to Santes Creus in 1169.
Since the 13th century, Valldaura became a royal space, used as a hunting lodge and palace by the kings of the crown of Aragon, such as James II or Martin the Humane, who spent two entire summers there in the years 1404 and 1405.
From the 16th century onwards, the domain passed into the hands of a family of jurists who became nobles, remaining as an independent entity until it was annexed to Cerdanyola in 1836.
With the construction of a new farmhouse in 1888 and its acquisition by the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC) in 2008, Valldaura became a centre for research on advanced green buildings and architectural innovation.
The exhibition also includes data from the archaeological excavations being carried out in Valldaura by the University of Barcelona, with the support of the Generalitat de Catalunya. This project highlights the role of Valldaura as a mirror of the evolution of Catalonia and its relationship with the territory, power and management of resources over almost nine centuries.
On Wednesday 4 December, coinciding with the anniversary of the founding of Valldaura in 1150, the book that tells its story will be presented in the Sala Martí el Humano of the MUHBA, in the Plaça del Rei. The work, published by Actar, is the result of more than 15 years of research by the architect Vicente Guallart and the economist and historian Robert Álvarez.
