Casa do Chocolate de Galicia

About the museum

The Casa do Chocolate de Teimende preserves the legacy of the Casares family, who made chocolate for nearly a century in this village of Parada de Sil under the brands “Chocolates Caldelas” and “Chocolates Casares”. The heirs of the last chocolate maker, Ricardo Casares, handed the legacy over to Parada de Sil Town Council, which restored the space and opened it to the public in 2015.

The activity dates back to the late 19th century, with Pedro Casares. His son Arturo consolidated the factory in the 1920s, and his grandson Ricardo modernised it with electricity and advertising techniques unusual in rural Galicia. The factory closed in the 1980s and supplied Ribeira Sacra and nearby comarcas in the province of Ourense.

The museum presents the machinery donated by the family and explains the entire traditional process, from the arrival of cocoa beans to the distribution of the product. It is presented as the only museum space in Galicia devoted to chocolate, and visits are guided and limited in numbers.

Highlights

• The only museum space in Galicia devoted to chocolate
• Original machinery of the Casares factory (“Chocolates Caldelas”)
• Traditional chocolate-making process, from cocoa bean to distribution
• Guided visits for groups of up to 15 people

Permanent exhibition

• Colección museográfica Casa do Chocolate de Teimende – Machinery and documents from the former Casares factory, explaining the traditional chocolate-making process.

Founded

2015

Operated by

Concello de Parada de Sil

Admission & discounts

General admission: €2. Free admission for children under 14, official tourist guides, holders of the Carné Xove youth card, residents of Parada de Sil and people with reduced mobility.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• 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

People with reduced mobility have free admission. The tourism website does not give details of access conditions.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

From Parada de Sil it takes about three minutes by car: take the OU-0605 road towards Vilariño Frío for 2 km to the village of Teimende.

Amenities & dining

• Wi-Fi

The Ribeira Sacra tourist listing mentions parking, toilets and Wi-Fi among the site's facilities.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit