Museu del Ter

About the museum

The Museu del Ter opened on 23 June 2004, promoted by Manlleu town council to make known the cultural heritage of industrialisation and the natural heritage of the River Ter, and to revitalise the riverbank and the town's cultural life. It was installed in the former Can Sanglas yarn factory, beside the river, and was called the Museu Industrial del Ter until 2012, when it adopted its present name to reflect a territorial scope wider than the industrial one.

In 2014 it changed from a foundation into a municipal body of Manlleu town council. Since its opening it has been part of the Territorial System of the Museu de la Ciència i de la Tècnica de Catalunya, and its environmental area, the Centre d'Estudis dels Rius Mediterranis, was integrated into the University of Vic as a research institute in 2016, while continuing to collaborate with the museum.

The exhibitions occupy about 1,500 m². They explain how hydraulic power turned the Ter into a river of factories from the mid-19th century onwards, show the cotton-spinning process and two turbines still in operation, deal with industrial society, including its workers and their labour conflicts, and devote one floor to Mediterranean rivers, with an aquarium of the middle Ter.

Highlights

• Restored 1860 Fontaine turbine that drives the spinning machinery
• Francis turbine adapted to generate electricity
• Cotton-spinning machinery: carding machine, roving frame, ring-spinning frame and reel
• Aquarium with the fauna of the middle Ter
• Tactile modules “La mirada tàctil” with reliefs, braille and sign-language videos

Permanent exhibitions

• La fábrica de río y las turbinas – Explains how hydraulic power turned the Ter into a river of factories, and shows the process of making cotton yarn and the Francis and Fontaine (1860) turbines.
• La sociedad industrial – Covers the social changes of industrialisation: manufacturers and women workers, associations, strikes and employer lock-outs, with audiovisuals, models and sets.
• Los ríos mediterráneos – Natural sciences space on the landscape, hydrology and ecology of Mediterranean rivers, with an aquarium of the middle Ter housing mountain barbel, bagra and eel.

Founded

2004

Operated by

Ajuntament de Manlleu

Admission & discounts

Free admission for under-18s, teachers, residents of Manlleu, and members of the Associació de Museòlegs de Catalunya and ICOM. Schools and other groups must book in advance.

Accessibility

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

The building has no architectural barriers and has a lift; the only area not accessible is the basement of the Fontaine turbine, reached by an iron staircase of 18 steps. Wheelchairs and folding seats can be borrowed free of charge, there are adapted toilets on floor 0 (with a baby-changing table) and on floor 1, and two parking spaces are reserved on the Ter promenade, opposite the museum. There is an induction loop at reception, the tourist office, the shop and the Auditori Roca, and subtitled audiovisuals. Three modules of “La mirada tàctil” have large print, braille, reliefs and QR codes linking to videos in Catalan Sign Language. Staff adapt visits to the group, and sign language can be requested in advance.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

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

Family proposals: dramatised visit “L'esperit del Ter”, treasure-hunt game “El tresor de la Quimeta” and self-guided outing “L'enigma del Ter”. There is a baby-changing table in the adapted toilet on floor 0.

Getting there & parking

Reached via the C-17 (Barcelona–Puigcerdà) and the C-25 Eje Transversal (Girona–Lleida). Manlleu town centre is a few minutes' walk away.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi throughout the museum and loan of mobile devices. The shop (books on history, nature and Osona, T-shirts and gifts) shares its space with the reception and the tourist office.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Up to 120 guests.

The Auditori Roca, with capacity for 120 people, is available for lectures, presentations and meetings; it has a projector, laptop, Wi-Fi, a translation booth, wireless microphones and an induction loop. Prices and bookings by phone or email.

Plan your visit