3 Essentials Museums to visit in Castelló d'Empúries

In the Empordà, for many generations, many families dedicated themselves to cultivating the grain of one of the most important cereals for the Mediterranean diet: wheat. The Ecomuseu Farinera de Castelló d'Empúries pays tribute to all those people in that area who carried out this important work.

What was originally a mill that used to take advantage of the flow of a river known as Muga, later in the 19th century ended up becoming a factory dedicated to the production of wheat flour.

In 1995, the municipality itself was the entity that acquired this factory. Considering how well preserved all the elements present there were, both the installations themselves and the machines used, it was decided to transform the space into a museum.

Precisely thanks to its good condition, today it would be feasible to produce wheat flour, although it is used for another purpose: to welcome visitors and explain to them how this important product is made.

The audiovisual material reproduced when visiting the Ecomuseu Farinera in Castelló d'Empúries is to be appreciated. Thanks to him, everything is perfectly understood even by children who enjoy the experience of being cultured in this museum space.

The grain goes through a part of the factory at the same time that this content is reproduced, with the museum having a large teaching component, which is why it is common for schools to take their students to these facilities.

Continuing with the audiovisual material, the testimonies of many employees who passed through the factory make it possible to understand perfectly what it was like not only their work, but also the life in general of those people who were dedicated entirely to the production of wheat flour.

One of the most outstanding elements of the Ecomuseu Farinera in Castelló d'Empúries is the turbine. The Francis model was manufactured in 1905 and, despite the time it weighs on it, there is no significant deterioration, but rather the opposite: its condition is impeccable.

This turbine was formerly used to move machines, making use of elements such as belts and pulleys. Since it is not in operation, it is not possible to appreciate this process directly, although it is a very well achieved recreation in the form of a model.

Another area of the Ecomuseu Farinera in Castelló d'Empúries that tends to attract all eyes is the plant on which there is a space for bagging flour. In this place, numerous tubes can be seen connecting the various machines present there.

Perhaps in some museums the space dedicated to cleaning may seem unattractive or lacking historical value, but this is not the case with these facilities. And the thing is that there is the machinery that has a greater number of years behind it, without the antiquity taking its toll, as demonstrated by the sieves used to classify everything that was obtained using the mill.

In very good condition there is also an element known as sasor, with which white flour was produced in this factory.

To the list of machines and elements that are perfectly preserved, we must add others that are very important, such as the meter that was used to calculate the percentage of moisture that both flour in general and cereals had, in addition to the densigraph with which it was known if the flour had the expected quality or not .

On the other hand, the Ecomuseu Farinera in Castelló d'Empúries has a viewpoint that offers good views. The most remarkable thing is the water channel that comes from the Muga River, as well as the moat belonging to a wall of medieval origin that is also preserved in a surprising state.

Opening Hours

From October to March 

From Tuesday to Saturday, from 10 am to 2 pm and from 4 pm to 6 pm

Sundays and holidays*, from 10 am to 2 pm 

* Except long wwekends

From April to June, and September

From Tuesday to Saturday, from 10 am to 2 pm and from 4 pm to 7 pm

Sundays and holidays*, from 10 am to 2 pm 

* Except long weekends

July and August

From Monday and Sunday**, from 10 am to 2 pm and from 5 pm to 8 pm

** Incluying holidays

Closed

1 & 6 January
11 September (except public holidays)
25 & 26 December

Open door days
The Candelaria, 2 February
International Museum Day, 18 May
Patron Saint Festival for Sant Llorenç, 10 August
European Heritage Days, October
Science Week, second Sunday of November