Tradition in Catalonia
The Cork processing has a long tradition in Catalonia. Cork has been harvested, cut and processed here since the 2nd century. Shoes, wallpaper, material for fishing and bottle caps were made from the robust material.
Around 1900, over 13,000 workers were employed in 615 factories. Today, Catalonia is the leader in the production of sparkling wine corks and ranks third in Europe after Portugal and Andalusia. Cork oak trees have been growing on 42,000 hectares of land for centuries, from which a rich harvest is expected again this year. The massive cork oaks can be peeled between June and September. The center of the cork industry Catalonia is Palafrugell.
Llofriu – cork festival
In the small medieval village llofriu Palafrugell takes place on the Saturday before the Sant Joan Fest Festa de la Pela del Suro“Korkfest is held. Around the village church you can look over the shoulder of traditional craftsmen all day long.
In the morning, villagers and guests meet for breakfast in the nearby cork oak forest. In the afternoon, the cork peel demonstration will take place there. If you want to learn more about cork, that’s it Cork Museum in Palafrugell recommended.
The architecture of the building surprises with simple, strict lines. It was built by the Girona architect Emili Blanch i Roig in the style of the New Objectivity between 1931 and 1934 as a trade school. Today you can find out everything about cork on two floors. The best way to start the tour is in the left hall. pictures,
Information boards and devices explain simply and practically what exactly cork is and how it is obtained from the cork oaks. Only after 40 years can you harvest the first cork bark to produce wine corks. Further peeling then takes place at a distance of 9 to 12 years. Since the cork oak has a lifespan of 150 to 200 years, it can be peeled about 16 times. About 300 kg of corks can be produced from a ton of cork wood. The leftovers are used as an INDUS Triekork for floor coverings, seals or insulation. A guided tour of the museum will tell you more about the history of the cork and some anecdotes from the world of cork processing.
For more information, see www.museudelsuro.org.
More: Hike – Calella de Palafrugell to Tamariu, Bay paradise – Calella de Palafrugell.
