Museu da Cortiça – Fábrica do Inglês

About the museum

The Fábrica do Inglês was founded on 2 January 1894 by the cork industrialists Avern, Sons & Barris, linked to the London and Catalan cork industries, and became one of the country's largest cork factories. In 1918 Victor Sadler, known locally as “o senhor inglês” (the English gentleman), took over management and modernised production, which gave the complex its name. The factory ended industrial production in 1995.

On 5 January 1999 the site reopened as the Museu da Cortiça (Cork Museum), with a rare, practically intact industrial production line. In 2001 it received the Luigi Micheletti Prize for the best industrial museum in Europe and exceeded 100,000 visitors that year. In 2009, insolvency problems led to the closure of the museum and the complex.

In 2025 Carvoeiro Branco and ANTRIX acquired the complex and the museum's collection and began the recovery of the exhibition and the industrial heritage. The museum reopened in July 2026, after about 16 years closed. The collection brings together original industrial machinery, tools, furniture, documentary photography and written archives, in a route through the cork cycle, from the cork-oak forest to the finished product, and through the working-class history of the region.

Highlights

• Practically intact cork production line, dating from the 19th century
• Machinery, tools, photographs and the factory's archive
• Luigi Micheletti Prize 2001, best industrial museum in Europe
• Route from the cork oak to the finished product
• Reopened in July 2026

Permanent exhibition

• Museu da Cortiça – Route through the original machinery and the factory spaces on the cork cycle and the working-class history of Silves.

Founded

1999

Operated by

Carvoeiro Branco e ANTRIX

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum states that it has access for people with reduced mobility.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum is next to the Arade river, a 10-minute walk from the historic centre and 5.9 km (7 minutes) from the A22 motorway.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit