Funeral Carriage Collection

The Collection of Hearses was created in 1970 and is formed by nineteen original pieces: thirteen funeral carriages, six carriages used in funeral processions, and three motorised vehicles. It is the only collection of its kind in Europe. A valuable artistic and cultural heritage that helps us understand how our forebears carried their dead to the cemetery and how they adapted to the new funeral customs during the period spanning the 19th and most of the 20th centuries. Visitors are taken back to the neoclassic Barcelona of the mid-19th century as a result of complementary virtual information.

The collection seeks to further our knowledge and understanding of funeral rites and carriages and their uses and symbolism, while looking at death in a natural, accessible and educational way.

The library contains more than 2,000 books about funerals. It is the most important one of its kind in Spain and the second most important in Europe. The volumes help us understand the funeral rites practised by different civilisations from prehistoric times to the present day, with particular emphasis on the Egyptian civilisation. Access by appointment only.

Guided tours every Saturday at 12 noon (Catalan). More information on www.cbsa.cat