* The author is part of the community of readers of La Vanguardia
In La Vanguardia’s Readers’ Photos we can see fresh flowers next to the window in a farmhouse in Empordà, in an image captured around 4 p.m. that conveys bucolism and tradition. Can we imagine the landscape of this area of ??Catalonia without this type of houses?
The farmhouse is a type of rural construction that abounds in Catalonia. It dates back to its use by the scattered population of peasants or shepherds, who lived far from urban centers.
In the past, many people lived in the peasant houses: the owner, the heir, the other brothers, the extended family, young men and shepherds. They were production centers, where wine was made, flour was ground or oil was produced.
In addition, the pig was fattened and sausages and cheeses were made. While in some farmhouses wine boots were made, in others espadrilles were sewn and other traditional crafts were carried out. Although many have now been converted into rural tourism hostels or second homes, the truth is that there are still those that operate in a traditional way with farmers and ranchers.
It must be taken into account that the farmhouse is one thing, that is, the house alone, and the mas, the set of house, farmland and forests, is another.
