Mollet Del Vallès

Mollet del Vallès is a medium-sized town that is an important northern suburb of Barcelona, 17km from that Catalan capital and 10km from the city of Granollers. It is in the province of Barcelona, part of the Vallès Oriental region of Catalonia. With a population of around 52,000, it straddles the River Besòs. Mollet del Vallès is an important communications hub from Barcelona towards the north.

Half of the town’s territory is taken up by the Gallecs protected green area, which is largely used for organic farming as well as recreation. Covering 755 hectares of farmland and woodland, Gallecs provides a biological link between the coastal region and the region’s natural interior. Within the URBACT project Diet for a Green Planet, Mollet aims to use locally produced organic products in the canteens of its 11 schools, three kindergartens and two establishments for the disabled.

Mollet hosts the Institute of Public Security of Catalonia, where the autonomous region’s local police forces are trained. Thanks to the police academy connection, the town was also the site of the shooting competitions during the 1992 Olympic Games hosted by Barcelona. Since then, the town has opened a new sports centre as well as its Colours Park, using former derelict land to provide a public amenity with striking architecture. Since 2010 it has built a new hospital as well as a new industrial park with good road connections. In its strategic plan for 2025 Mollet del Vallès has set itself the challenge of stimulating new economic activity based on business renewal and diversification.