Museo Estanislao Reverter

Museo Estanislao Reverter in Ourense is a small motorsport museum dedicated to Estanislao "Lalao" Reverter, one of the pioneers of Galician rallying, who died in 1991. It occupies the old railway station of Santa Cruz de Arrabaldo, on the outskirts of the city, as part of the "Estaciones Vivas" project that repurposes historic train stations across the region.

Who was Estanislao Reverter?

Between 1955 and 1975, Lalao Reverter was one of the leading figures of Spanish motorsport, racking up 54 outright victories across rally, circuit and hillclimb events. He took part in the Monte Carlo Rally twelve times, and in 1966 drove as an official Rover team pilot. He also won the Rally Spain-RACE, one of the country's most prestigious motor races at the time, on two occasions. Off the track, he founded the Ourense Rally and the Escudería Ourense racing club, mentored younger drivers through his own team, Reverter Competición, and built the Alpinche, a home-built car that became something of a local legend.

What will you see inside?

The exhibition spans two floors. Upstairs traces Reverter's sporting career from his earliest starts to his final rally in 1975, displaying trophies, helmets, scale models of his cars, and personal memorabilia such as magazines, books and items donated by people who knew him or worked alongside him. The ground floor covers his other roles — race organizer, team founder and car builder — and includes the Alpinche alongside a Goggomobil and other pieces linked to Escudería Ourense.

Where is the museum and how do you get there?

The museum sits in the former Santa Cruz de Arrabaldo station, reachable from the N-120 road (exit near km 582, Casardomato), postcode 32990. The building is shared with two other small exhibitions: the Museo del Traje Tradicional Gallego (Traditional Galician Costume Museum) and the Centro de Interpretación del Lino (Linen Interpretation Centre). A single trip out to this corner of Ourense lets you see all three.

When to visit and how much does it cost?

Admission is free. Visits run by prior arrangement rather than fixed opening hours, so it's worth calling +34 988 317 930 or emailing ctc-inorde@inorde.com ahead of time to book a slot. Because visits are arranged individually, guests often get a more personal tour, with more time spent on the stories behind each exhibit.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee at Museo Estanislao Reverter? No, admission is completely free.

Do I need to book in advance? Yes — the museum operates on visits by appointment, so call or email beforehand to arrange a time.

What else can I see in the same building? The station also houses the Traditional Galician Costume Museum and the Linen Interpretation Centre, so one trip covers three small museums.

Who was the museum named after? Estanislao "Lalao" Reverter, a rally driver and motorsport organizer credited with 54 racing victories and the creation of the Ourense Rally.