Cereal Interpretive Centre

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Aldeias do Xisto

Centro Interpretativo do Cereal
Photo: Centro Interpretativo do Cereal, Aldeias do Xisto

A space that pays tribute to the millers of Espinhal and the Municipality of Penela.

The watermills in Espinhal, Penela, have a long history dating back centuries, with the first recorded mill in the region documented in January 1242. Over the centuries, these structures played a crucial role in grinding cereals for the production of bread and cornbread, which were mostly homemade at the time.

The preservation and enhancement of these structures remain a priority to ensure that this part of the cultural and technological heritage is passed on to future generations.

It is in this context that the Cereal Interpretive Centre (CIC) was created. Inaugurated in April 2024, it is a museum space dedicated to the millers of the Parish of Espinhal and the Municipality of Penela, housed in the former miller’s residence. The building showcases tools and utensils used in the cereal cycle, as well as an area reserved for temporary exhibitions.

In the adjacent building, there is a fully operational watermill with two pairs of millstones (for wheat and corn), a resting room where the miller would sleep to monitor the milling process, and a support room for workshops, where participants knead dough to bake broa (cornbread) in a traditional wood-fired oven. The space also hosts tastings of local products.