Soap Museum

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Portalegre > Gavião > Belver > Bairro Tropa

Location

Situated in the locality of Belver, in the municipality of Gavião, the Soap Museum is located in the Bairro Tropa (Troop Neighbourhood). The building, which was once the village's old primary school, is positioned on elevated ground, offering a perspective of Belver's surroundings, close to the historic Castle of the Order of the Hospitallers and with the Tagus river visible in the distance.

An Enduring Tradition

For centuries, Belver was a vital center for soap production, an activity that profoundly marked its economy and the daily lives of its population. The village's history is intrinsically linked to the Royal Soap Factory, a royal initiative that held the monopoly on production in Portugal. After this regime ended, the mastery of soap-making flourished in small artisanal family productions, known as ‘soft soap houses’. This soap, essential for washing fabrics, was transported by muleteers or via the Tagus river in barges, marking the journey of a craft that persisted until the mid-20th century.

Memory and Knowledge

Housed in the rehabilitated old primary school of Belver, the Soap Museum emerges as a tribute to the collective memory of the region's soap makers. Its main purpose is to preserve and share the ancestral knowledge linked to this production. This unique space is the only one in Portugal entirely dedicated to soap, with a particularity: it highlights the history of soft soap, a specific type of soap whose artisanal production was emblematic in Belver and distinguishes the museum in the European and global landscape.

The Museum Experience

Upon exploring the Museum, visitors encounter a sober and modern environment that invites immersion in the history of soap. Informative panels and black and white photographs unveil the chemical complexity behind this product, legends, and its journey through time, with a special focus on its connection to Belver. It is possible to observe a didactic wall illustrating the differences between soft soap and hard soap, as well as showcases displaying a variety of soaps and iconic packaging from different eras. Interactive elements, such as digital tables and games, complement the visit, while a space dedicated to puppets and a continuous film offer more playful approaches to the narrative. The exhibition also includes the display of tools once used in the manufacture of soft soap and the opportunity to view photographs and names of some of Belver's most notable soap makers, honoring this significant craft.

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