Tuesday 5 July 2011

The Hórreo - Singular Symbol Of Spain

image credit

If you travel through north eastern Spain the chances are that you will see something like the structure in the picture above. Known as hórreo and often centuries old, these structures served a vital purpose for the local communities. Can you guess what they were for?

(thanks Robert-John)

7 comment(s):

Anonymous said...

This type of construction are more typical of northwest of the country.

João Santos said...

This type of construction is not singular to Spain, it's also used in the north of Portugal.

Ima said...

Fascinating...thanks, Gerard!

Anonymous said...

No clue is it a free place to stop rest and eat

Javi said...

Here you can read what it is an Hórreo... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%B3rreo

Thank you for using my picture and put the credits! :)

Deepfat said...

I'm sure the Galicians would have something to say about the Horreo being described as a 'symbol of Spain'!

Great post though. Having walked through Galicia on the Camino Primitivo it was great to be reminded of those happy days. Fabulous place. Everyone should visit!

soubriquet said...

I'd guess a granary.
Keeping foodstores up above the ground and dry, the mushroom shaped support pillars make it hard for mice and rats to climb.

Here in England, those stones are called "staddle stones".