Tobacco Barn of Rotglà i Corberà

Tobacco Barn of Rotglà i Corberà is a former tobacco drying facility in the village of Rotglà i Corberà, in the La Costera region of Valencia province, Spain. Known locally as the Secadero de Tabaco, the building went up in 1941 as part of the Franco regime's state tobacco monopoly, which concentrated leaf-processing in this part of the country. It now stands as one of the region's most distinctive pieces of industrial architecture.

What does the building look like?

The complex was designed by Carlos Arniches Moltó (1897–1955), a respected Spanish rationalist architect. The drying plant is arranged as five rectangular naves set out radially and symmetrically, with their entrances converging on a shared access plaza. The layout was purely functional: it let large batches of tobacco leaf be moved, ventilated and dried simultaneously across every wing of the building. The symmetry of the naves reflects the industrial logic of the period, where form followed the demands of large-scale processing.

What role did the drying facility play in the village's history?

Building the plant transformed the local economy. It created jobs for residents and drew workers from Andalusia and Castilla-La Mancha, reversing the village's demographic stagnation and giving it a new economic pulse. For several decades, drying and processing tobacco was the main occupation in Rotglà i Corberà, which became one of the tobacco-growing centres of the La Costera region, alongside the nearby comarca capital of Xàtiva.

What is housed in the old drying barn today?

The facility operated until the 1980s. Once tobacco production ended, the building was converted for public use — today it holds the town hall, an auditorium, a senior citizens' centre and a health clinic. Rather than becoming an abandoned monument, this piece of industrial heritage still functions as the practical heart of the village, combining administration, culture and healthcare under one distinctive roof.

Are there other tobacco drying sheds nearby?

Yes. Rotglà i Corberà also preserves smaller, privately built drying sheds that local farmers once used to hang bundles of tobacco leaves, including the Secadero de Evaristo — a rectangular nave measuring roughly 7 by 14 metres, fitted with characteristic vertical latticed ventilation openings that allowed air to circulate freely. These modest structures are a direct record of an era when growing and drying tobacco shaped the economy — and the landscape — of the entire area.

Why is this building worth seeing?

For visitors interested in industrial history and twentieth-century architecture, the former tobacco barn is a rare case of a building that kept its original form despite a complete change of use. Standing on the plaza where the old naves converge, it is easy to appreciate Arniches Moltó's rationalist design and picture the scale of production that once dictated the rhythm of daily life in Rotglà i Corberà.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was the tobacco drying facility in Rotglà i Corberà built? The building went up in 1941, as part of the Franco-era state tobacco monopoly that concentrated leaf processing in the La Costera region.

Who designed the building? It was designed by Carlos Arniches Moltó, a Spanish architect working in the rationalist style.

Until when did the facility operate as a working drying plant? It remained in operation until the 1980s, after which the building was converted for public use.

What is inside the building now? It currently houses Rotglà i Corberà's town hall, auditorium, senior citizens' centre and health clinic.