Hórreo

Anhórreois a typicalgranaryfrom the northwest of theIberian Peninsula(Asturias,Galicia,where it might be called aGalician granary,andNorthern Portugal), built in wood or stone, raised from the ground (to keep rodents and water out) by pillars (pegollosinAsturianandCantabrian,esteosinGalician,espigueirosinPortuguese,abearriakinBasque) ending in flatstaddle stones(vira-ratosin Galician,muelesortornarratosin Asturian, orzubiluzeain Basque) to prevent access byrodents.Ventilation is allowed by the slits in its walls.

Names

In some areas,hórreosare known ashorriu,horru,(Asturian),horriu(Leonese),hurriu(Cantabrian),hórreo,paneira,canastro,piorno,cabazo(Galician),espigueiro,canastro,caniço,hórreo(Portuguese),garea,garaia,garaixea(Basque).^[1]

Distribution

Hórreosare mainly found in the Northwest of Spain (GaliciaandAsturias) andNorthern Portugal.There are two main types ofhórreo,rectangular-shaped, the more extended, usually found in Galicia and coastal areas of Asturias; andsquare-shapedhórreosfromAsturias,León,westernCantabriaand easternGalicia.

Origins

The oldest document containing an image of anhórreois theCantigas de Santa MariabyAlfonso X "El Sabio"(song CLXXXVII) from the 13th century. In this depiction, three rectangularhórreosof gothic style are illustrated.^[2]

Types

There are several types of Asturianhórreo,according to the characteristics of the roof (thatched,tiled,slate, pitched or double pitched), the materials used for the pillars or the decoration. The oldest still standing date from the 15th century, and even nowadays they are built ex novo. There are an estimated 18,000hórreosandpanerasin Asturias, some are poorly preserved but there is a growing awareness from owners and authorities to maintain them in good shape.

The longesthórreoin Galicia is located inCarnota,A Coruña,and is 35 metres (115 ft) long.

Other similar granary structures includeAsturianpaneras(basically, bighórreoswith more than four pillars),cabaceiras(Galician round basketworkhórreo),trojesortrojsinCastileor silos.

A Galicianhórreo.
HórreoofCarnota,Galicia.
HórreofromCosgaya,Cantabria.
Hórreofrom Piornedo, Galicia.
Corn cobs inside anhórreo,Boiro,Galicia.
Hórreofrom Siero, Asturias.
Stone pillar (pegollu) standing on a footing stone (pilpayu) and capped with astaddle stone(muela).
Building sitting on staddle stones, at theSomerset Rural Life Museum,similar to Iberian hórreos.
Decorated granary inAmes.
Brick granary inDodro.
Granary set inCombarro[gl].
Stone granary in PortugueseSoajo[pt].
Alvenary granary over pillars inCarnota[gl].
Alvenary granary over pillars and slab inLira[gl].
Alvenary granary over barn inRianxo.
Mixed granary over masonry strains inOroso.
Wooden granary over masonry strains inVedra.
Parts of the Asturianhorru

Hórreo-like granaries in Europe

Similar granaries were common throughoutAtlantic Europe:Northwest Iberian Peninsula,France,theBritish Isles,Scandinavia.

There areespigueirosorcanastrosin northernPortugal(the most famous concentration is located inSoajo).

FrenchSavoyhas itsregard,also encountered in the SwissValais(raccard) and the ItalianAosta Valley(rascard).Norwayhas itsstabbur,Swedenitshärbreor more preciselystolphärbreorstolpbod.Hambarsare found in the Balkans, andserenderin northernTurkey.

Similar buildings (barns) on staddle stones are found in Southern England.

EspigueirosfromArcos de Valdevez,Portugal
RaccardsinValais,Switzerland
Stabburoriginally from Bergsrud inSør-Aurdal,Norwaylater relocated to the Bautahaugen Samlinger
Ambar from 1888 inBanovci,Croatiaduring winter
Ambar from 1888 inBanovci,Croatiaduring summer

References

^"RACCARD: Définition de RACCARD".
^Hórreo: granary (Spain), inEncyclopedia of Vernacular Architecture of the World(Paul Oliver ed.), Vol. 1, Theories and Principles, pp. 713-714: "Not until the 13th century, in the 'Cantigas' of Alfonso X, was there confirmation of buildings that were morphologically similar to the basic Galician hórreos."

External links

[1] "RACCARD: Définition de RACCARD".

[2] Hórreo: granary (Spain), inEncyclopedia of Vernacular Architecture of the World(Paul Oliver ed.), Vol. 1, Theories and Principles, pp. 713-714: "Not until the 13th century, in the 'Cantigas' of Alfonso X, was there confirmation of buildings that were morphologically similar to the basic Galician hórreos."

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