The Carillon of the Palau

The carillon of the Palau de la Generalitat has 49 bronze bells, weighs 4,898 kilos and covers a tonal range of four chromatic octaves. The number of bells gives it the category of concert carillon. It was built by Petit & Fritsen, from Aarle-Rixtel (Holland), and inaugurated in 1976, a few months before the reestablishment of the Generalitat de Catalunya. This new carillon replaced the small carillon of 1927. The Carillon of the Palau offers auditions to listen to in the streets of the Gothic Quarter, and concerts that can be heard from inside the Palau de la Generalitat and, of course, from the streets around the Palau.

Auditions and concerts of the Carillon del Palau

• Auditions: there are usually auditions every day from Monday to Friday, at 12:00 noon and 6:00 pm. The works are performed by the Palau's carillonneur. Occasionally these auditions can also be heard on Saturdays at 12:00 pm.
• Concerts: The concerts can be heard from inside the Palau de la Generalitat, in the Patio de los Naranjos and in the Gothic Gallery. In case of rain or other adverse circumstances, from the Gothic Gallery and the Carriage Courtyard. In these spaces the audition is accompanied by live images of the keyboards of the instrument and each of the pieces of the program are presented. Admission is free, although prior registration is required. The concerts, which last 60 minutes, are held every first Sunday of the month (except in August and September), at 12:00 noon. The program includes both classical and popular works, as well as concerts by La Mercè and St. Stephen's Day.

Barcelona International Carillon Festival July 2025

• Friday July 18, Toru Takao, Japan/Germany
• Saturday, July 19, Kasia Piastowska, Poland/Germany
• Sunday, July 20, Wim Ruitenbeek, The Netherlands
• Friday, July 25, Austeja Staniunaityte-Proietta, Lithuania
• Saturday, July 26, Jon Lehrer, USA
• Sunday July 27, Anna Maria Reverté, carillon, Maria Lluïsa Beltran, piano, and the Esbart Dansaire de Rubí: closing concert with carillon, piano and dance: a must-see show with El libro rojo de Montserrat, Blancafort, Nemeni Parco and recreations of popular dances.

All the concerts of the festival start at 9:00 pm.