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Casa Castellarnau Tarragona – Noble House, Ballroom & MHT Museum

Explore Casa Castellarnau, a medieval‑to‑18th‑century noble house on Carrer Cavallers with a neoclassical ballroom, Gothic courtyard and Roman‑wall remains. Part of the MHT museum network

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About Casa Castellarnau

Casa Castellarnau is one of the most important noble houses in Tarragona and forms part of the Museu d’Història de Tarragona (MHT) collection. Located on Carrer Cavallers—the street where the city’s leading aristocratic families built their palaces from the Middle Ages through the 18th–20th centuries—the house preserves architectural layers spanning more than six centuries.

The building incorporates sections of the Roman Provincial Forum’s boundary wall, making it one of the few noble residences in Tarragona physically connected to the ancient Roman city. The ground floor preserves a series of pointed arches from the 14th and 15th centuries, along with a Gothic courtyard and a U‑shaped staircase with stone columns and capitals from the same period. The 18th‑century remodel transformed the upper floor into an elegant noble residence with a grand ballroom, dining room, bedrooms, and reception spaces. The original kitchen has also been preserved on the ground floor.

The Castellarnau family was one of Tarragona’s most influential lineages from the 15th to the 19th century. In the 18th century, Carles de Castellarnau purchased the property and commissioned major renovations that gave the house its current neoclassical appearance. The home’s prestige is reflected in its role as host to Charles V and his court during the monarch’s visit to Tarragona in 1542.

Today, Casa Castellarnau stands as a richly layered historic residence where medieval architecture, Roman foundations and 18th‑century aristocratic interiors coexist. It offers one of the most complete insights into noble life in Tarragona’s Part Alta.

Image Gallery For Casa Castellarnau

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Visiting Casa Castellarnau

Casa Castellarnau feels more like a small palace than a stately home, and the visit includes many of the noble floor’s most impressive rooms. The entrance leads into the medieval ground floor, where the ticket desk and reception area are located.

The visit offers a rare opportunity to explore aristocratic interiors spanning several centuries, all preserved within one of the most historic streets of Tarragona’s Part Alta.

Accessability to Casa Castellarnau

Casa Castellarnau is a medieval‑to‑18th‑century noble residence built into the Roman Provincial Forum wall, and its interior layout reflects the architecture of the period. As with Casa Canals, the building is not adapted for reduced‑mobility access.

All visitor areas are connected only by the original staircases, and there is no lift due to the protected heritage structure and the constraints of the Roman and medieval walls. Visitors must climb stairs to reach the noble floor and its reception rooms, ballroom, bedrooms and dining spaces.

The entrance on Carrer dels Cavallers is at street level, but access to the reception area requires ascending the historic staircase. The Gothic courtyard, medieval arches and the 18th‑century kitchen are accessible only via uneven surfaces typical of medieval architecture.

Visitors who can manage stairs will find handrails on the main staircase, and staff can provide guidance on the layout before beginning the visit.

There are no bicycle anchorage points near the entrance to Casa Castellarnau. Carrer dels Cavallers is a narrow medieval street with limited space for securing bikes, so cyclists should plan to lock their bicycles elsewhere in the Part Alta before visiting.

Large rucksacks and bulky bags are not permitted inside the museum due to the fragile furnishings, narrow doorways and the historic nature of the rooms. There is no storage area at reception. I was allowed to enter with my small 10 L daypack, but larger backpacks will need to be left elsewhere prior to the visit.

Casa Castellarnau Summary of Prices

Train/Bus Fare Entry Ticket Additional Information Train/Bus Fare Entry Ticket Additional Information Adult € 16.10 € 5.00 Students, Over 65 years, 2.50 Euros Child € 16.10 FREE For under 16 Years Group/Family Ticket? See Website. Notes Combined ticket for all MHT 15.00 Euros.

Getting to Casa Castellarnau

Address: Carrer dels Cavallers 14, Tarragona, 43004

For detailed directions, see the #getting to section of the Tarragona overview page, which explains how to reach Tarragona by train, car or bus.

Map for Casa Castellarnau

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Discover Roman Tarragona Historic Houses 1 to 2 hours by train or bus 10 to 25 Euros

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