Museu Rural de Salselas

Museu Rural de Salselas is a small ethnographic museum in the village of Salselas, in the municipality of Macedo de Cavaleiros, in north-eastern Portugal. It shows everyday life in the traditional countryside of Trás-os-Montes: farming, old trades and the furnishings of rural homes. It opened in August 2000, which makes it one of the youngest museums in the region.

Who started the museum?

The idea came from Jaime António Gonçalves, better known as the writer Antonio Cravo, an emigrant living in France. He rallied both local residents and the emigrant community from the parish of Salselas around one goal: saving heritage that was in danger of disappearing. The collection therefore grew largely out of contributions from the community itself.

What will you see inside?

The museum occupies the first floor of a purpose-built building that also houses the parish council (junta de freguesia). The permanent exhibition covers about 180 square metres and is split into eighteen thematic sections, grouped into two "universes":

• The Universe of Man – tools and methods of working the land, and the cycles behind bread, wine, olive oil and linen. It also presents traditional trades such as the tailor, shoemaker, basket maker, barber, blacksmith and boilermaker.
• The Universe of Rural Society – furniture and utensils from homes of another era, plus ways of working with lime and making roof tiles.

Together the displays illustrate the close bond between people and the land, and give a clear picture of how a farming household made its living before agriculture was mechanised.

When can you visit?

The museum is open all year and closed on Mondays. From Tuesday to Friday it opens 10:00-12:00 and 14:00-17:30, on Saturday 10:00-18:00 and on Sunday 13:00-19:00. Hours can change, so it is worth calling +351 278 442 115 before you go.

Who is it for?

It suits anyone interested in ethnography, village history and traditional crafts, and families who want to show children where bread and clothing once came from. A visit is usually short, so it combines easily with other stops around Macedo de Cavaleiros.

Frequently asked questions

When did the museum open? In August 2000.

Who came up with the idea? Jaime António Gonçalves, the writer known as Antonio Cravo.

How many sections does the exhibition have? Eighteen, in two thematic groups.

Is it open on Mondays? No, it is closed on Mondays.

Where is it? In Salselas, in the building that also houses the parish council, in the municipality of Macedo de Cavaleiros.