Museu Casa Rull: A Window into Andorra's Rural Past

Museu Casa Rull, nestled in the charming village of Sispony, provides a captivating journey into Andorra's past. Housed in a historic family manor dating back to the 17th century, the museum offers an immersive look at rural life in the Pyrenees before the 20th century. The Rull family, one of the oldest in Andorra, originally built the house in 1723. Over the centuries, the house was expanded and transformed, especially after the Perich family, wealthy merchants, married into the Rull family in 1757. The Perichs' influence elevated the family's status, and they became known as 'pagesos grassos' or 'fat peasants,' a petite bourgeoisie class of landowning farmers. A fire in the late 19th century destroyed much of the wooden structure, but the stone walls endured, and the house was rebuilt in its traditional style. In 2000, Josep Perich Puigcercós, the last private owner, agreed with the Andorran government to transform the historic residence into a house museum, which opened on June 9, 2000. The museum spans four levels, each meticulously furnished to reflect daily domestic life around the turn of the century. Visitors can explore the cellar, storerooms, kitchen with a bread oven, pantry, dining room, and bedrooms, including a 'death and vigil' room, and the attic where fruits, herbs, and tobacco were dried. The museum is part of Andorra's Rural Habitat Itinerary, along with other house-museums. Since 2021, the ticket office area has hosted rotating exhibitions by emerging local artists.