Rattle Museum

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Évora > Viana do Alentejo > Alcáçovas > Bairro dos Barrancões

Location

The Chocalho Museum is located in Alcáçovas, a town situated within the municipality of Viana do Alentejo. It is found on Rua da Esperança, in the Barrancões Neighborhood. The building that houses the museum has a direct link to the history of cowbell production in the village, having previously functioned as a workshop.

The Art of the Cowbell in Alcáçovas

Alcáçovas possesses a rich cultural heritage in the art of cowbell production, a traditional activity with deep roots in the region. These objects, which accompany rural life and pasturing, are more than simple artifacts; they represent a know-how transmitted over generations. The museum is dedicated to preserving and sharing this important part of the local and national heritage.

A Collection of Thousands of Voices

The museum's collection is remarkable for its size and diversity. The collection gathers thousands of cowbells, presenting itself as one of the most extensive and significant sets of its kind in existence. The pieces vary immensely in size, shape, and sound, illustrating the variety and nuances of this traditional art and its practical applications in daily rural life.

The Artisan's Legacy

The creation of this museum is largely due to the passion and dedication of João Chibeles Penetra, a master cowbell maker native to Alcáçovas. It was he who, throughout his life, dedicated himself to collecting and preserving a vast quantity of cowbells. The museum is the result of this work of safeguarding and sharing his knowledge and valuable collection with the public.

Diversity and Function

The cowbells on display demonstrate that each piece is unique, with its own sound and purpose. There are different types of cowbells, conceived for various functions in accompanying animals. The diversity present in the collection allows one to understand how the shape, size, and material influence the sound produced, and how that specific "voice" was used in daily life in the countryside.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt