Hemp Museum Gallery

The smokers’ room

Last week I was invited to the opening of a new museum in Barcelona – the Hemp Museum Gallery – located in a beautifully restored palace from the 16th century, the Palau Mornau, on Carrer Ample 35. I’ll show you details of this gorgeous palace shortly, but today I am sharing some images of the museum with you.

As can be expected, there are rooms dedicated to the currently best known use of this plant, the smoking of cannabis, but I am delighted to inform you that the largest part of the museum is dedicated to showcasing its many other uses, some of which are quite surprising.

Harem hemp use

The Hemp Museum Gallery is decorated tastefully and all items (gathered from around the world by its founder Ben Dronkers for more than 40 years!) are displayed sequentially, according to its use, in the different rooms of the lovely Palau Mornau in beautiful cabinets embellished with carved hemp leaves.

Growth and care of hemp plants

Hemp

There are rooms dedicated to its cultivation and history…

Medicinal room

… to its medicinal uses, in the past and now…

‘Gaper’

Hemp-based remedies

Medication

Samurai and stained glass

… to its trade through the ages, and to all manner of artifacts related to its use, and is illustrated amply with many paintings, sketches, etches and prints, among which we can even find some master pieces (by Picasso, for example).

Artifacts from around the world

Relax in the sun

The museum also offers the opportunity to sit back and relax for a bit on its balconies which offer views onto Carrer Ample (or at least it did on the opening).

Processing hemp

Hemp for ropes

I knew a little about the various uses of hemp, but was blown away by those I didn’t know of. Hemp can be used to produce ropes, sails, it can be woven and knitted or knotted…

Many uses of hemp

Gorgeous clothing

… for clothing, tea towels and table cloths…

Comfy sports shoes

… shoes, and even car parts – yes, really! – can be made from this resilient and eco-friendly plant, which is easy to grow, can cure forms of cancer and offer relief with many other illnesses, and be a great alternative when used instead of trees in the production of paper, as well as its many other uses.

Car parts

The Hemp Museum Gallery was a real eye opener for me, in the best possible way, and therefore I am delighted to share it with you today. It is well worth a visit, while you’re in Barcelona, and it is open every day from 9am – 11pm. For more information please check the website here.

Thanks to Annebeth Vis and Ferenz Jacobs for your kind invitation! It was lovely to meet you, and a unique opportunity to refresh my memory and learn more about the many uses of this humble and much maligned plant, and to visit such a beautiful palace which has taken 10 years to restore.

Carrer Ample 35

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