Corga Wine Press

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Leiria > Castanheira de Pera > Bolo

Location

The Lagar do Corga (Corga Olive Mill) is located in the village of Bolo, part of the municipality of Castanheira de Pera. This historic site is situated near the Ribeira de Pera (Pera Stream), a geographical connection that holds particular relevance in the mill's history. Its presence alongside this waterway highlights the importance of natural resources in the region's traditional industrial activity.

Memory of Olive Oil Production

With a history spanning over 400 years, the Lagar do Corga began as a beam press mill, witnessing centuries of activity related to olive oil production. Although its existence is very old, the first written records, referring to a license to operate, date back to 1939. Two years later, in 1941, Manuel Aguiar Cortês became the first officially registered owner of this mill.

This mill represented an industrial unit with a strong artisanal character, notable for utilizing the motive power of the Ribeira de Pera's own water for its operation. It was a remarkable example of local ingenuity in exploiting natural resources for agricultural production. However, due to new regulations, its original operation had to be discontinued.

A Preserved Legacy

To ensure the preservation of such a significant heritage, the structure of the Lagar do Corga was transformed into a museum center. This initiative, driven by the community and the municipality, allowed the mill to be saved from dismantling, ensuring that its history and function would be perpetuated. The space was inaugurated in 2001, opening its doors to share with the public the legacy of artisanal olive oil production.

Inside, visitors can explore a permanent exhibition that details the operation of a traditional olive mill and showcases the various tools and implements that were used in the process of transforming olives into olive oil. The Lagar do Corga thus functions as a museum of industrial history and archaeology, offering a window into the region's agricultural and technological past, and occasionally hosts temporary exhibitions.

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