Museu del Suro de Palafrugell

Museum dedicated to the cork industry, one of main economic drivers in the town of Palafrugell throughout history. The permanent exhibition depicts the production process from when the resin is collected through to the final product.

The building housing the museum stands out for the sobriety and austerity of its lines. This Rationalist structure, designed by Emili Blanch i Roig between 1931 and 1934, was designed as a school of arts and crafts.

The transformation process for cork can be seen in the room to the right of the entry. The other two upstairs facilities are for temporary exhibitions and for displaying a selection of sculptures and cork altarpieces. There are guided tours in July and August.

The Museu del Suro de Palafrugell preserves, researches and promotes the cultural and natural heritage related to the world of cork, and is integrated into the Museu Nacional de la Ciència i la Tècnica de Catalunya.

At the beginning of the 19th century, cork and its derivative industries became the municipality’s main economic activity, and its mechanisation transformed an agricultural town into an industrial city.

In early 20th century Palafrugell, cork spurred the first sporting clubs, several recreational sports clubs (such as the Ateneu Palafrugellenc and the Casal Popular), more than one casino (the Centre Fraternal and the Cercle Mercantil) and a considerable number of bars, cafés and classicist clubs.

The income provided by the industry for the municipal corporation and for some families enabled the construction of buildings representative of the time: the Modernist mansion of Can Mario, the Can Bech de Careda house, the Almeda house, the Econòmica Palafrugellenca (seat of the current library) and the public constructions at Mercado Cubierto, the municipal slaughterhouse and the School of arts and crafts.

In 1900, the gigantic Manufacturas de Corcho, S. A. was created, of which the bays that house the Fundación Vila Casas and the Can Mario water tower survive.