Ancient crafts Route
Ice Well of Oliana
During many centuries, man used ice and snow to conserve fish and other foods, to elaborate ice creams or even to keep cool therapeutic products.
When the climatology was favourable and the cold could freeze the water, the ice was stored in wells. And after the winter, when the temperature started to go up, the ice was used and sold. The well of Oliana is a singular example showing visitors the office of the ice retailers. Located near the " la Flor" river, in the outskirts of Oliana, it is a construction underground , with a height of approximately 8'3 meters, a diameter of 5'45 meters, circular and covered by a stone.
These characteristics enables thermal insulation that ice making requires. Formerly, people entered the well through a narrow corridor 12 meters long. Now, to make the access easier, a new wider corridor has been constructed.
Once there, the visitors can visit the permanent exhibition about ice wells in Catalonia, Valencia and other Mediterranean places. With many pictures, graphs and explanations, the exhibition shows how the ice business created important commercial networks. The ice was taken to the Balearic Islands and, even as far as Italy, Cadiz or Calcutta.
Telephones for visits: 973 47 00 35/973 47 05 73
Ancient flour factory of Montferrer
The origins of the flour factory of Montferrer go back at the beginning of the XX century, to be precise, it was constructed in 1911, although it wasn't built from scratch but rather upon the old mill of the Trobada, dated 1868. They took advantage of the water fall of the previous flour mill.
In the sixties, the flour factories started to be less important because of the new technologies. The economy of the market needed a new structure that the factory could not fulfil, and, for several reasons, the flour factory had to close. In spite of this, the building is still conserved and is an interesting place for the visitors who wish to discover the old craft of making flour.
The factory consists of four levels, with stairs that separate the factory in two parts. On the left side are the previous houses of the millers; and on the right side is the factory.
Between two and four men used to work habitually in the factory, without any fixed working hours, and depending on the daily volume of work. The elaboration process was very complex and the machinery that was used worked with hydraulic energy. The visitor can admire the very well conserved deposits and pipes and understand the old flour manufacturing method.
Visiting times: Monday to Sunday, 10am to 1pm. Arranged visits: please telephone 973 35 13 43
