Located in the heart of Palafrugell, the Museum occupies part of a former cork factory in a modernist building in Plaça Can Mario. Many features of the former factory are visible in the museum and close by. The Cork industry was crucial to the town’s economy. Palafrugell was a major centre for cork production since the 18th century. This factory was the industry’s largest in Spain. It is also the largest Cork museum in the world.
The importance of cork to the wine industry is well known. Other uses for cork, its decorative and its important insulation and fire retardant properties will be explained on the tour. The exhibition consists of an audiovisual space, a journey from the forest to work at the factory to make stoppers, discs, paper and agglomerate, a space to experiment and a space for participation. It acquires, preserves, interprets and highlights heritage structured around the world of cork in Catalonia .
You will learn about the history of the trade, the details of production – from tree to table. While shaping a landscape, industry, lifestyles and a common identity it aims to contribute to the social, economic and cultural life of the community. The lives of the people working on each stage are explained, with examples of their particular techniques. Up to 1,000 people were employed here. You will learn how this work affected whole families. The division of labour. Mechanisation. And finally the Spanish Civil War -1936 to 1939.
The Armstrong Cork Company, founded in 1860 in the USA, bought the factory post war. As well as the wine corks, they manufactured sheet cork for interior decoration. This was very popular in the ‘60s. Remember floor tiles for bathrooms and kitchens? Production ceased in the 1970s causing severe unemployment in the area. The Armstrong Company still exists – but not here.
Cancellation: If the event has to be cancelled for any reason you will receive an email & there will be a cancellation notice on the U3A website by 8 am on the morning of the event.
