Pressing Tank of Lage (Shoemaker)

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Guarda > Mêda > Sapateira > Lagar da Lage

Location

Lagar da Lage is nestled in the village of Sapateira, located within the municipality of Mêda, in the heart of the Guarda district. This place benefits from a serene rural setting, typical of the Beira Interior region, where the landscape is shaped by terraces and olive groves that bear witness to centuries of agricultural activity. Its position, integrated into the village fabric, allows for immersion in local daily life and history, offering an authentic perspective on the connection between people and the land in this region.

A Testament to Olive Oil and Tradition

Lagar da Lage (Sapateira) is a space dedicated to preserving the memory and the process of olive oil production, an activity that profoundly shaped the region's economy and culture. By visiting this site, one can step back in time and understand the ancestral stages and techniques that transformed olives into precious "liquid gold." The structures and equipment present here tell the story of arduous, yet fundamental, work for the rural communities of yesteryear.

Architecture and Original Function

The architecture of Lagar da Lage reflects the intrinsic functionality of a building designed for processing. Its robust walls and internal layout were designed to accommodate the heavy mechanisms for milling and pressing olives. Elements such as the beam and screw press, stone millstones, and olive oil vats are central aspects that can be observed. Every architectural component and every piece of equipment narrates the story of a production process that depended on human ingenuity and the force of nature.

Preserving Local Identity

This olive mill represents a valuable effort to preserve the material and intangible heritage of Sapateira and the entire Mêda region. By being converted into a visitor space, it allows current and future generations to understand the importance of traditional agriculture and the central role olive oil played in the lives of its people. It is a point of connection with the cultural roots and profound identity of a territory forged by resilience and the labor of the land.

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