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Museum of Rural Life

Hall of Carts

The collection with carts includes the tractor as a display of the evolution of machinery in the rural world.

The collection with carts includes the tractor as a display of the evolution of machinery in the rural world.

The carts displayed in this hall remind us that until just a few decades ago, carts were the preferred means of transport in the countryside and elsewhere.

A cart is basically made up of three pieces: a horizontal floorboard with or without rails, two arms to attach the draught animals to and wheels.

The trade of carter involved both building and driving carts. It was considered a trade that was difficult to learn, and it thus had a good reputation among the people. Also known as mestres d’aixa (masters of the adze), carters also had to be good carpenters and skilled blacksmiths.

The use of carts led to a change in house design so that they could be manoeuvred inside; this led to the addition of wide entrances, exposed stone tracks and corner beads to protect the walls. Even the streets in the towns were designed and shaped so that the passing carts would not cause disturbances.

The carro d’escales, the carro de torn, the light cart, the funeral cart, the gardening cart and the mallorquina are just some of the local carts which are currently only found in museums, no longer used because of the revolution brought about by the combustion engine.

AUDIOGUIDE

03. A Cart for All Seasons

Listen to the audio guide of this museum

All audios available

SIGNGUIDE

03. Un carro per cada temps

OBJECTS

<p>Funeral cart from Santa Coloma de Queralt (La Conca de Barber&agrave;). Museum of Rural Life.</p>

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Funeral cart
Funeral cart
<p><em>Carro de torn</em>, second half of the 19th century, 360 &times; 192 &times; 167 cm. Museum of Rural Life.</p>

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Carro de torn
Carro de torn
<p>Tipcart. Second half of the 19th century. Size: 480 x 173 x 175 cm. Museum of Rural Life.</p>

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Tipcart
Tipcart
<p>Hanomag Barreiros R 335 tractor. Early 1960s. Museum of Rural Life.</p>

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Hanomag Barreiros R 335 tracto
Hanomag Barreiros R 335 tractor
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