Espluga de Francolí Agricultural Cooperative Winery | Cultural Heritage. Goverment of Catalonia.
Espluga de Francolí Agricultural Cooperative Winery The first modernist winery
The cooperative winery of Espluga de Francolí was the first of its kind to be commissioned by a renowned architect. Pere Domènech i Roura, son of Lluís Domènech i Montaner, initiated the construction of the "signature wineries" or "wineries of the rich" with the design and direction of the works. Subsequently, Cèsar Martinell also worked at the Espluga Winery.  Erected in 1913, it was the first Modernista cooperative winery of Catalonia and of the rest of the Spanish State. Today, this centre, a pioneer of the most artistic and innovative the cooperative system houses the facilities of the Wine Museum.

The layout of the winery is similar to that of other contemporary buildings, comprising: three rectangular, parallel areas, individualised two-sided roofs and another nave placed at right angles to the others. In the structure of the winery we find all the Modernista genius. Pere Domènech designed a system of pillars in a cross that became ogival arches which make the role of the transverse and side arches of an area (solutions previously employed in medieval architecture). The areas, 44 by 12 metres, housed a total of 40, reinforced cement vats each with a capacity of 340 hectolitres, and several underground presses. The perpendicular area was slightly smaller (13 by 8 metres) and housed the entrance bay and machine room (with the latest presses of the time). As an annex to this nave, the winery also had a laboratory in order to control the production process more effectively.

The facade is equal for the three main areas. Historians talk about elements that recall the most genuine Catalan architecture: ogival arcades with small windows, brick pillars arranged vertically, triangular crowns and galleries of blind arches reminiscent of Lombard Romanesque. The materials used for the façade were crushed stone, rendering and brickwork. Another "aesthetic" element is the water tank. Located next to the unloading bay, it is a circular brick tower crowned by a conical roof decorated with classic Modernista mosaic.

In 1915, the winery of Espluga de Francolí occupied 1,311 square metres and had 160 members. Cèsar Martinell made an extension in 1929 by adding another area. In 1990 it was renovated and restored and, finally, in 1998 the Wine Museum was opened.

Plan your visit

What can I do?
- Get to know this emblematic winery better with a guided tour at the weekend.
Timetables
Visits: Monday to Friday from 9.30 am to 1 pm and from 3.30 pm to 6.30 pm. Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Farm shop: Monday to Friday: 9am to 1pm and 3.30pm to 6.30pm | Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, from 10 am to 2 pm.
The Wine Museum will be closed on January 1, Easter Monday, December 25 and 26.
Prices
Visit
Adults, children from 7 years and groups: € 2.50
 
Check the prices on the monument's website.
Contact
Espluga de Francolí Agricultural Cooperative Winery
C. Josep M. Rendé, 5
43440 L'Espluga de Francolí, Tarragona
Tel. 977870161
Veure localització
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