Agramunt, in the Lleida region of Catalonia, has reopened its former municipal slaughterhouse as a new cultural, heritage and administrative centre. After a full renovation, the building will begin regular opening hours this June, according to local officials.
The first phase will see the centre open Monday to Friday in the mornings while the municipal archive is moved in gradually. Mayor Sílvia Fernández said documentation fumigation will take place in the coming days before the transfer to the new premises.
The project cost more than €1 million and completes a long-requested plan backed by several local administrations. Culture Minister Sònia Hernández attended the inauguration. For more local coverage, see News.
Built in 1948, the building replaced an older slaughterhouse and formed part of the post-Civil War work of the Regions Devastades programme. It was designed by architect Lluís Domènech i Torres, son of Pere Domènech Roura and grandson of the Modernist architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner. The slaughterhouse stayed in use until 2004, with an initial budget of 15,000 pesetas.
After it closed, the site was used for secondary functions, including as a municipal warehouse. It also hosted local groups such as Cau, Diables l'Espetec, Teatredetics and the Cycling Club. Rehabilitation works began in 2021.
The project was carried out in two phases. The first ran from November 2021 to May 2022 and focused on restoring the roof. The second began in November 2023 and finished this year, allowing the space to be adapted for its new uses.
The new archive centralises documentation that was previously scattered. The centre also includes a consultation room, a climate-controlled document repository and spaces that meet Generalitat filing system standards. It adds a double-height lobby for a permanent exhibition of local festive imagery, plus the Espai Sió, a room dedicated to the natural, scenic and cultural heritage of the Ribera del Sió. The complex also has a central courtyard with direct street access, designed for meetings and activities. Funding came from the 1% cultural contribution linked to the Segarra-Garrigues canal, together with support from the Generalitat, Lleida Provincial Council, European FEDER funds and Agramunt Town Council. The council plans a third phase that would add a large multi-purpose hall.