The museum complex is located within an old factory that preserves original machinery and archival materials from the peak of the cork industry.
The Can Mario tower, located on the museum grounds, is a protected monument representing early 20th-century industrial water storage.
Palafrugell was historically one of the world's most significant hubs for the production of cork stoppers for the wine and champagne industries.
The collection includes over 1,500 objects related to cork craftsmanship and early industrial automation.
The museum serves as the headquarters for the 'Xarxa de Museus de les Comarques de Girona,' a network of regional cultural heritage sites.
The Museu del Suro de Catalunya occupies the site of the former Can Mario cork factory, a notable example of Catalan industrial architecture dating back to 1900. It serves as a comprehensive center for the research and exhibition of the cork industry, which was central to the development of Palafrugell and the surrounding Baix Empordà region. Visitors explore the complete manufacturing process from the extraction of bark from Quercus suber trees to the final production of cork stoppers. The facility features permanent exhibitions detailing the economic and social transformation driven by this commodity in the 19th and 20th centuries. It also highlights the modern applications of cork in sustainable architecture and design. The museum complex includes the Can Mario water tower, a distinct modernist structure designed by General Guitart. The site acts as a regional hub for preserving the industrial heritage of the Empordà area.
The base of the iconic modernist Can Mario water tower.
Combine your museum visit with a walk to the nearby Can Mario contemporary sculpture garden located on the same grounds.
Check the museum's temporary exhibition schedule online before arrival, as they frequently host rotating displays on local industrial history.
Wear comfortable shoes to navigate the various levels of the old factory building.
Do not mistake the modern art gallery (Fundació Vila Casas) sharing the complex with the history museum; they are distinct institutions with separate entrances.
Typically closed on Mondays during the off-season; check for seasonal variations in the daily rotation.
