The automobile has been one of the most important challenges of the twentieth century. The nearly eighty vehicles on display show the evolution of aesthetics and mechanics to suit the needs of each era, and how speed limits and power have been overcome. The museum also houses a hundred bicycles, a witness to the challenges that the evolution of technology has overcome by transforming a clumsy, cumbersome and dangerous contraption into a stylish, reliable and practical machine. The collection, largely made up of pieces from several private collections, is considered one of the most important in Europe in terms of cars and a world reference for bicycles.
This house-museum, whose main body dates from 1623, is witness to the way of life in Andorra from the late nineteenth century to the early twentieth century. It is undoubtedly the most famous house in the parish of La Massana. At that time, the Andorran rural society lived essentially on agriculture and livestock in a natural environment marked by the rugged relief, the harsh climate and the precariousness of communications. At the heart of this life, the house, as a social system, was the center of the village. The house of the Perich family, a very influential family and one of the richest in the parish of La Massana, was remodeled until the beginning of the 20th century according to the needs. The last tenant left in 1920. The visit follows the rhythm of a story on several floors. On the first floor are the cellars and the cellars, on the second floor are the kitchen, the dining room, the kneading machine and the orchard; on the second floor the cycles of life are presented through different rooms (marriage, birth of the heir, childhood, old age and death), the top floor is reserved for the attic where a photographic film is projected to end the visit.
Today it is a living example of Andorra's pre-industrial heritage. The Rossell Forge, completely restored and converted into an Iron Interpretation Center, will show you, through an audiovisual, how the process of transforming iron ore into ingots takes place and the importance of metallurgy in Andorra. At the end of the visit, you will also see how the water-powered hammer works and how ingots were produced in the past, all with period tools. You will also discover the tools and instruments used in the production process, such as the horn or the furnace, among others. * Languages: Catalan, Spanish, French and English. * Space adapted for people with reduced mobility.
The Areny-Plandolit House is one of the most emblematic museums in the country. The manor house dates from the eighteenth century, but most of the building's structures are from the mid-nineteenth century, a time of economic boom of the family thanks to the figure of Don Guillem d'Areny-Plandolit, third baron of Senaller and Gramenet. The dining rooms, the noble hall, the music room, the defense elements, the cellars, the library or the chapel reflect the differences with the rest of the Andorran society. The house was inhabited until the fifties of the twentieth century, and in 1972 the Consell General bought it to convert it into a museum, which opened in 1984.
The Nicolai Siadristy Miniature Museum, located in the village of Ordino. The museum houses various microminiatures made of gold and other materials, which have to be observed with a magnifying glass or microscope, of this Ukrainian artist considered the best in the world in this discipline. The exhibition on the art of microminiature shows unique specimens handmade from noble materials such as gold and platinum, as well as common materials such as paper, fruit seeds or rice grains. The work of the Ukrainian Nikolai Siadristkyi shows his own vision of art in this art form.
The Museum has a permanent exhibition of 121 motorcycles ranging from the late nineteenth century to the present day. The exhibition space of 900 m² distributed on a single floor and divided by sectors, allows visitors to make a comfortable and attractive tour. The Motorcycle Museum has unique pieces such as the Henry Capel Loft Holden of British origin, patented in 1896, and a Diamant of 1900 of French origin, both steam-powered. Also, an American Cleveland of 1915, with a markedly sporty design. More contemporary are the four raid motorcycles loaned by the five-time Dakar Rally winner on two wheels, Cyril Despres. You can also see a Solo Electra, manufactured by the Japanese brand Honda in 1968, which is the first to be manufactured with electric propulsion. The mythical Italian Vespa from the mid 50's; Bultaco and Montesa machines that made epoch in trial competitions; racing and street bikes, etc.. A whole range of models that have marked the evolution of two wheels and also of history, such as the 1940 BMW with sidecar, protagonist of World War II.
Since March 2017, the new Carmen Thyssen Andorra Museum has been a must-see gallery for lovers of the best art, especially painting from the 19th and 20th centuries. This museum occupies a total of 500 m2, of which 250 m2 are dedicated to the large exhibition hall. The entire surface is perfectly accessible and is equipped with the latest technical advances in museum matters. In this sense, new technologies play a fundamental role: thanks to the touch screens, the visitor will be able to interact directly with the work, enjoying different information and points of view. The exhibitions of the Carmen Thyssen Andorra Museum show some of the best works from Carmen Thyssen's private collection. From its headquarters in Madrid and from other artistic spaces it owns, pieces by masters of the 19th and 20th centuries reach Andorra, representatives of the main currents of their times: French Impressionism, North American Impressionism, Catalan Modernism, Fauvism, Cubism, German expressionism, North American hyperrealism ... Among them we can find the Mata Mua, the work of the master Paul Gauguin. Finally, the center also has works from the 16th century.
This museum belongs to the Reig family foundation and is located in the family's former tobacco factory: Cal Rafeló, a 4-storey building located in the center of town. Tobacco production has been and is a fundamental economic activity for Andorra, for this reason the objective of the center is to disseminate the historical importance of this activity, and it makes use to a large extent of new technologies, with audiovisual projections and multimedia explanatory systems . * A museum to understand tobacco production: Learn, step by step, how this mass-market item was made and how it is made today. The cultivation, the arrival of the leaf to the factory, the gravy, the drying, the packets of stinging, the cigarette, the cigar, its customs control ... All the stages of this activity are part of the permanent exhibition, where you can also Get to know first-hand some of the machines and tools that were used in the factory. * Temporary exhibitions and activities: Along with the permanent exhibition, the center has other rooms and other spaces dedicated to temporary exhibitions of different themes, not always directly related to tobacco. In addition, the Reig Factory Museum is a living space in which numerous activities are organized throughout the year. * A pleasant and multimedia visit: The visit to the Reig Factory Museum is pleasant and entertaining, in part thanks to the multimedia system that guides the visitor at all times. Those who prefer, can join the group guided tours, with a duration of approximately 1 hour and a limit of 25 people.
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