Museo de Historia de la Automoción de Salamanca

About the museum

The Museo de Historia de la Automoción de Salamanca was opened by the Kings of Spain in 2002, the year Salamanca was European Capital of Culture. It arose from a partnership between Demetrio Gómez Planche and Salamanca City Council, with the support of the Dirección General de Tráfico, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of the Interior and the Junta de Castilla y León. The Fundación Gómez Planche, created in 2001, is responsible for maintaining and expanding the collection of vehicles, works of art and antiques held in the museum.

The complex comprises two buildings. The first, dating from the late 19th century, was first a tannery and then Salamanca's second power station, known as “La Fábrica de Luz”; today it houses the reception, the shop, the offices and a multipurpose space for lectures and temporary exhibitions. The second, a new building by the architect José Elías Díez, has three halls of 1,150 m² each, where the permanent exhibition is displayed. During its construction the ruins of the church of San Nicolás de Bari, dating from the 12th century and demolished at the beginning of the 19th century, came to light.

The collection is based on the holdings of the Gómez Planche family and the national collection of the Dirección General de Tráfico, to which pieces from other private individuals, institutions and patrons have been added. It now exceeds 150 vehicles, cars and motorcycles, as well as thousands of parts, accessories and objects related to the world of motoring. The museum is part of the museum network of Castilla y León.

Highlights

• More than 150 cars and motorcycles from the 20th and 21st centuries
• Hispano Suiza 30/40 HP of 1910, the first car declared a Bien de Interés Cultural in Spain
• Replica of the Bonet of 1889, one of the first cars to run in Spain
• Cadillac Fleetwood 75 and Mercedes-Benz 560 SEL used by the last two heads of state
• Formula 1 cars driven by Fernando Alonso, Nelson Piquet Junior and Romain Grosjean
• Joint ticket with the Casa Lis Art Nouveau and Art Deco Museum

Permanent exhibition

• Exposición permanente – More than 150 vehicles tracing the history of the car, from the early days of motoring and the Bonet tricycle to the mass production of the Ford T, design and safety models, and Formula 1 cars of recent champions.

Founded

2002

Operated by

Fundación Gómez Planche y Ayuntamiento de Salamanca

Admission & discounts

Free admission: The first Tuesday of each month, in the afternoon, and International Museum Day (18 May).

Accessibility

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

The museum is architecturally adapted: it has ramps, lifts between floors, seating on each floor and accessible toilets. Signage uses large print, there are Braille elements, and some vehicles in the permanent exhibition can be touched with museum staff. The “signoguía”, with QR codes on the label of each piece, offers videos, texts and audio adapted to different needs.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

Each child receives the “Pasaporte del MHAS”, with questions and challenges, and can get a gift from the shop if they collect more than six stamps. The game-style visit “Exploradores del MHAS” uses a leaflet with activities, and there are drawings and crafts to continue at home. City schools have free educational activities available.

Getting there & parking

The museum is on the right bank of the Tormes river, next to the Puente Romano, opposite the Archivo General de la Guerra Civil and near the Cathedral and the Casa Lis museum. It can be reached on foot along the riverside path or by bicycle along the cycle lane.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Wi-Fi

Free WiFi throughout the museum. The shop sells publications, postcards, posters and souvenirs inspired by the collection.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

Indoor and outdoor spaces are rented for presentations, company dinners and lunches, working breakfasts, cocktails, meetings, concerts and parades, with audiovisual equipment and external catering.

Plan your visit