Essentials Museums to visit in La Bisbal d'Empordà

If you enjoy pottery, as well as industrial ceramics in general, there is a museum on the Costa Brava that you cannot miss: Terracotta Museum of Ceramics, located in La Bisbal d’Empordà.

The building where this museum space is located began construction in 1922, completing the structure six years later. However, it was not until 1991 that the museum was inaugurated, which came to encompass a huge area of around six thousand square meters.

Specifically, the building was a factory where all kinds of ceramic coatings were produced. It was named Terracotta, so it's no surprise that this facility is known as the Terracotta Museum of Ceramics.

The Terracotta factory decided to end the professional work carried out there in the mid-eighties. Years later, the town hall of La Bisbal d’Empordà decided to acquire the building, which was then renovated with the clear intention of opening a museum.

Historically, pottery has always been very significant in this locality of the Costa Brava. The history of the potter’s craft, which became popular in La Bisbal d’Empordà in the 16th century, is reviewed in a museum that leaves no visitor indifferent.

All visitors are surprised to see the temporary exhibitions that began just when the museum was founded, the same happening with the permanent exhibition that opened in 1998. The combination of both exhibitions has led to it being ranked among the best Spanish museums dedicated entirely to ceramics today.

Exhibition

When visiting the Terracotta Museum of Ceramics, it is possible to see the kilns that were once used to shape the products that were later marketed. The chimneys that efficiently evacuated the smoke generated during the manufacturing process are also visible.

The exhibition of this museum is divided into four very distinct parts, with the first part focusing on ceramics in general. Throughout this part, visitors internalize the numerous decorative uses ceramics achieved, as well as the great relevance it acquired at the time in the artistic field.

Next, the exhibition focuses on the ceramics from a specific period: the pre-industrial, delving particularly into what took place in La Bisbal d’Empordà. It was made using wheels, while wood-fired kilns were used only once to fire the ceramic elements.

In this part of the exhibition at the Terracotta Museum of Ceramics, the various finishes that were characteristic of this municipality of the Costa Brava are described in detail, which are still present today in the ceramic products shaped in this town: glazed, smoked, and rustic.

The next part of the museum’s exhibition relates to industrial ceramics. Visitors are amazed at how much the potter's profession evolved thanks to the machines that were introduced, which saved a lot of time and allowed for excellent quality results.

Finally, now that we have talked about the professionals who dedicated themselves to pottery, it is time to address the last part of the exhibition, which is specifically dedicated to the creators. Artistic ceramics gained special relevance in La Bisbal d’Empordà at the beginning of the 20th century, which is perfectly reflected in this museum.

Spaces

The Terracotta Museum of Ceramics consists of several spaces, with the most important being the room dedicated to hosting temporary exhibitions, which are renewed every four months. In general, the ceramicists featured in this room tend to be quite popular nationally, being professionals with extensive experience.

'La Peixera' is another of the spaces that are part of the museum, focusing primarily on contemporary ceramics. For its part, 'Actualitat' lives up to its name by showcasing to visitors the most recent works, which perfectly reflect the modern techniques employed by the best ceramic professionals working in La Bisbal d’Empordà.

Lastly, 'El Forn' is a very notable space not only for the presence of four kilns that were once used to create ceramic works. Additionally, it also displays some pieces that are part of valuable collections, both public and privately owned.

Rates

The individual entry to the Terracotta Museum of Ceramics costs €5. The price of the reduced ticket is €2.5, so if you are part of a small group, are a senior citizen, or a student, you will pay less to enjoy the cultural experience.

Children under ten years of age enter the museum for free if the visit is not guided, as well as disabled individuals and citizens residing in La Bisbal d’Empordà.