The typical horreo of Galicia, a photo from La Coruna, Galicia

Photographer's Note

A h髍reo is a construction designed to store and preserve food away from moisture and animals to keep it in an optimal state for consumption. It is characterized by being raised on pillars to prevent the entry of moisture and animals (especially mice). and other rodents) from the ground and by allowing ventilation through slots in the perimeter walls.

In 1918, the Polish anthropologist Eugeniusz Frankowsky recorded the use of aerial granaries in the Iberian Peninsula, the Alps region, the Scandinavian Peninsula, the Balkans, sub-Saharan Africa, Persia, Southeast Asia, Japan, the Kamchatka Peninsula and the Bering Strait areas. , used for the conservation of the cereal.2 The specificity of the h髍reo as a typology lies in its union with the cultivation of corn and its maturation and drying in areas with an Atlantic climate.

The use of the h髍reo extends throughout much of the north of the Iberian Peninsula. They are currently especially abundant in Galicia and part of Asturias, although there are also examples in the provinces of Le髇 and Zamora, in Cantabria and in some areas of the Basque Country and northern Portugal. In these areas the use of the h髍reo is explained by the early arrival of a long, cold and humid winter that in the past forced early harvests.

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Un h髍reo es una construcci髇 destinada a guardar y conservar los alimentos alejados de la humedad y de los animales para mantenerlos en un estado 髉timo para su consumo. Se caracteriza por mantenerse levantado sobre pilares para evitar la entrada de humedad y de animales (especialmente ratones y otros roedores) desde el suelo y por permitir la ventilaci髇 a trav閟 de ranuras en las paredes perim閠ricas.

En 1918 el antrop髄ogo polaco Eugeniusz Frankowsky registra el uso de graneros a閞eos en la pen韓sula ib閞ica, regi髇 de los Alpes, pen韓sula Escandinava, 醨ea de los Balcanes, 羏rica subsahariana, Persia, Sureste Asi醫ico, Jap髇, pen韓sula de Kamchatka y 醨eas del estrecho de Bering, empleados para la conservaci髇 del cereal.2 La especificidad del h髍reo como tipolog韆 reside en su uni髇 con el cultivo del ma韟 y a su maduraci髇 y secado en zonas de clima atl醤tico.

El uso del h髍reo se extiende por buena parte del norte de la pen韓sula ib閞ica. Actualmente son especialmente abundantes en Galicia y parte de Asturias, aunque tambi閚 se cuenta con ejemplos en las provincias de Le髇 y Zamora, en Cantabria y en algunas zonas del Pa韘 Vasco y norte de Portugal. En estas zonas el uso del h髍reo se explica por la pronta llegada de un invierno largo, fr韔 y h鷐edo que anta駉 obligaba a realizar cosechas tempranas.

holmertz, ChrisJ, Fis2, mcmtanyel, ikeharel, COSTANTINO, jemaflor, Royaldevon, macjake, PaulVDV, jean113 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

holmertz (103660) 2022-06-11 12:05

Hello Luis,
I have seen a lot of strange churches on TE but I thought this would be the strangest of them all, until I read the note and realized it's a granary. That explains the pillars, but what about the crosses on the roof? Does that mean a wish that the grain be blessed and protected from vermin? It's a fascinating building, very well constructed and seen here from a very good angle. It's no doubt an interesting photo.
Best regards,
Gert

ChrisJ (172436) 2022-06-11 12:19

Hello Luis,

An interesting shot of the granary, with food sharpness and a nice angled pov showing 2 fa鏰des. Good sharpness and well framed and composed. Tfs!

jmdias (116547) 2022-06-11 12:51

luis

essa estrutura em pedra t鉶 r鷖tica � muito bonita. j� vi muitos desses espigueiros no norte de portugal e na galiza. esse aqui me parece menos refinado, talvez mais antigo. linda amostra desse estrutura t韕ica.
aqui na minha cidade antigamente havia uma estrutura de madeira para secar o caf� e proteg�-lo, mas agora elas se perderam, foram demolidas.
um abra鏾

jorge

mkamionka (75171) 2022-06-11 12:53

Hola Luis,
Very interesting structure and I think I would never guess its application. Very educational upload. I am glad to see that there is also a Polish element in your note ha ha
Great presentation, nice angle to make us feel very close to it. The presence of people in the corner allows us to better appreciate the scale.
Excellent reportage,
M

Fis2 (171991) 2022-06-11 13:19

Witaj Luis!
A very interesting granary, view makes impression.
I like the columns and walls.
Good framing, colors and sharpness.
Very impressive picture!
Well done.
Have a nice weekend my friend.
Krzysztof

lousat (140026) 2022-06-11 13:25

Hi Luis,very interesting post, i never seen nothing like that and it needs to read the note to understand, very original bulding to preserve the food in the way over the ground,perfect capure in the best quality as usual! Have a nice Sunday and thanks,Luciano

pajaran (117113) 2022-06-11 19:56

Pozdrav.

Lep pogled, interesantan i dobar tekst ...
Lepa stara arhitektura, dobro pokazano sa lepim bojama, kontrastom i perspektivom.
Dobar rad, lepa fotografija.
Lepo staro skladiste za zitarice.

Zelim vam lep dan za odmor, sve najbolje.
Paja

mcmtanyel (69284) 2022-06-11 20:00

Hello Luis,
Before reading the note, I thought this a sarcophagus, especially with the cross on it. Great POV, nice composition and clarity.
Regards,
MT

emka (158900) 2022-06-11 20:00

hello Luis, It is a very interesting object that I have never seen or heard of. The construction is very clever, to protect the food from moisture and rodents. It looks nice too. Thanks for sharing
Have a nice Sunday

MAlgo

ikeharel (114659) 2022-06-11 21:29

Hola Luis,
Franklly, its the first time I see such an edifice, with purpose of food storing.
Hope it will be preserved as ancient reminder of different life when there were no refrigirators.
Buenas dias,
Ike

COSTANTINO (117850) 2022-06-11 22:46

Hello dear Luis and have a nice day
and a happy Sunday s evening...
the truth is that it is the first time
I see something like this called
horse....a construction designed to
store and preserve food away from
moisture and animals...my personal
opinion is that this is so strange for all of us...
and the cross on the roof???
thanks for the details and the
explanation
regards
Costantino

jemaflor (148292) 2022-06-11 23:39

Hi Luis,
Interesting old consruction well taken, good angle and good brightness and also interesting informative note, tfs.

ifege (49505) 2022-06-12 0:13

Hi Luis
Horreos are a new one for me so a good interesting photo. The cross on the top must be for extra protection.
cheers
Ian

Tue (93504) 2022-06-12 9:53

Hello Luis,
Your photo shows this special structure really well. Both the pillars it stands on and the textures of the old stone are very clearly visible from a good angle. Well done.
Lars

Royaldevon (86484) 2022-06-13 5:48

Hola Luis,

What a sensible building to store food!
It would be impossible for rodents to access this building!
I suspect that it was difficult to make, shaping the stones and the bricks, but it would have a long life!
You have chosen a fine angled viewpoint, with sharp details.
The prominent cross suggests religious links!

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

macjake (98544) 2022-06-19 21:18

Hi Luis
wow, what a unique subject, this is great.
unexpected for sure, I wish there could be more of these on TE.
So rustic, so old and certainly has that 'ruin' type of look and feel to it. great shot!
cheers
Craig

PaulVDV (63496) 2022-07-12 9:41

Hello Luis,
Another good memory of Galicia: the horreos.
Your view slightly upwards makes this one look impressive.
We can see at the bottom of the horreo how green Galicia can be.
Best regards, Paul

jean113 (28311) 2022-07-16 9:15

Hello Luis, your notes explain very thoroughly the purpose of this building. I have seen this system of raising a food store off the ground in the UK but never on such high pieces of stone.
I like the angle from which you took the shot, it gives us a good idea of the size and height.
Interesting that it has a cross on the roof.
Kind regards, Jean