Igualada Muleteer's Museum facts for kids
| Museu del Traginer | |
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| Established | 2005 |
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| Location | C/ Traginers, 5 08700, Igualada Catalonia, Spain |
| Type | Transport, carriages, rural history. |
The Muleteer's Museum (also known as the Museu del Traginer) is located in Igualada, a town in Catalonia, Spain. This museum is all about how people used to transport goods and travel using animals like mules and horses. It also shows how different jobs were connected to the work of a muleteer.
A muleteer was someone who drove mules, often carrying goods. The museum explores other related jobs too, such as carters (who drove carts), coopers (who made barrels), saddlers (who made saddles), and blacksmiths (who worked with metal).
The museum has an amazing collection of 39 carriages and carts. In total, there are 2,175 items on display! Most of these items come from the collection of Antoni Ros i Vilarrubias, who lived from 1942 to 1994. The museum building itself is an old farmhouse from the 1700s. It's close to the old part of Igualada.
The museum is divided into three main areas. These areas cover different "occupations" (jobs), "saddles and harnesses" (equipment for animals), and "carts and carriages" (the vehicles themselves).
Contents
History of the Museum
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The idea for the Muleteer's Museum started in 1994. That year, the "Traginer d'Igualada" foundation was created in Igualada. Its main goal was to build this special museum.
The Ros family, who owned the large collection of items gathered by Antoni Ros, were very involved in the foundation. They worked with experts to plan and set up the museum. The Muleteer's Museum officially opened its doors to the public on September 24, 2005. Since then, it has been part of the network of museums managed by the Diputació de Barcelona.
What You Can See
The Muleteer's Museum has more than 1,000 square meters of space for exhibitions. The displays are spread out over three floors, each with something different to explore.
First Floor: Trades and Muleteers
- On the first floor, you'll find a room that shows how the muleteer trade changed over time.
- There's also a "Sala dels Oficis" (Room of Trades). This room highlights 10 different jobs that were important for muleteers. These include the carter, cooper, saddler, tanner (who made leather), wicker weaver (who made baskets), farrier (who shod horses), veterinarian (animal doctor), stablehand (who cared for animals), woodcutter, and blacksmith.
Second Floor: Animal Gear and Traditions
- The second floor has a "Sala dels Guarniments" (Room of Harnesses). Here, you can see all sorts of horse tack, which is the equipment used on horses.
- There's also a "Tres Tombs" room. This section explains a traditional festival where animals and carriages parade through the streets.
- Another room on this floor is the "Sala dels carros de servei i pagesia." This area displays carts used for everyday work and farming.
Third Floor: Carriages and Antoni Ros
- The third floor features the "Sala dels Carruatges de la Burgesia." This room is filled with fancy carriages that were used by wealthy families.
- Finally, there's a special room dedicated to Antoni Ros. He was the person who started collecting many of the items you see in the museum. This room also shows some sculptures that he created.
More to Explore
- Muleteer
- Igualada Leather Museum
See also
In Spanish: Museo del Arriero. Colección Antoni Ros para niños
