Wine press of Varas

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Viseu > Carregal do Sal > Parada

Location

The Lagar de Varas is located in the village of Parada, an area belonging to the municipality of Carregal do Sal. This historic space is integrated into the village environment, serving as a point of reference for understanding rural life and the region's cultural heritage.

Memory of Traditional Olive Oil

Dating from the late 19th century, the Lagar de Varas is a remarkable example of ancient olive oil production units. Its restoration aims to safeguard a piece of local history, illustrating the artisanal methods that characterized olive oil extraction in Portugal. The importance of this olive mill lies in its ability to bear witness to an activity that, for centuries, was crucial to the economy and daily life of rural communities.

The Structure and Process

This olive mill is organized on two distinct levels, reflecting the different stages of olive oil production. On the lower floor, the pios are located, basins intended for olive oil decantation. It is possible to observe an older pio, which originally contained ceramic vessels, and a second, more recent one, built of granite.

On the upper level, the lever presses and the pressing plates area are found, where the olive paste was pressed to release the oil. One of the central elements is the stone millstone, or galga, used to crush the olives, a process that was usually powered by animal traction. On site, traces of the furnace structure were also identified, where the water needed for various phases of olive oil production was heated, thus completing the image of a traditional olive mill in full operation.

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