English
On December 12, 2011, after seven years of restoration, the doors of the Fábrica Moritz Factory have once again been opened. But let´s start from the beginning. Louis Moritz of Pfaffenhoffen, a beer region of Alsace, came to Barcelona in 1851. His older brother was a master brewer, so he followed in his footsteps and started making his own beer in 1856. In 1862, thanks to an increasing demand for his product, he bought a farm in the Ronda de Sant Antoni, one of the first buildings of the Eixample after the demolition of the city walls. Thanks to his success, he was able to turn what started out as a single building into an architectural complex after he bought neighboring buildings (from 39 to 43 of Ronda de Sant Antoni) to open the Cevercería Moritz in 1897.
Two years after the death of Louis Moritz in 1920, his heirs created the brewery Fábrica de Cervezas Moritz, S.A. In the 1930s they had record sales, controlling over 30% market share of Catalonia.
In the 1960s, and after years of success, the production plant was too small so they moved out. But the oil crisis of the 1970s was difficult and Moritz Beer, SA disappeared from the market until the last generations of the family Moritz brought it back to life in 2004. Their offices are located in the former factory in the Ronda de Sant Antoni. Now this great space is a gastronomic center, which also offers cultural activities and entertainment.
After a long rehabilitation, promoted by the CEO Alberto Castellón and carried out by the renowned architect Jean Nouvel, the Fábrica Moritz has been reborn.
They have an irresistible offer, namely to taste beer made by artisanal methods in a dining space designed by Jordi Vilà, where you can also try a wide range of tapas and dishes. This is located on the ground floor, where they also have a wine bar and store.
The offices are located on the first floor of the building at number 39, and the ground floor is devoted to events. In this space everything from networking events to concerts and fashion shows are held. The last space left to restore is the area where the Moritz family once lived, on the first floor, where they found some oil paintings on the ceilings. According to Leire Marcos, historian and restorer, who is currently working on the restoration:
“Chance discovered these paintings! The ceilings, of plaster, imitate structures of wood, with high quality gold and silver leaf, in between which are ornamental motifs with repetitive molds that are hand painted. This type of decoration is found in many of Barcelona’s buildings from 1900, but the type of materials used was determined by the economic or cultural level. These are applied arts that not only decorate but were integrated into the architectural spaces in order to refine the light of the interiors. “
Alchemy, the cooking school and restaurant of Jordi Vilà, may move into this space and become integrated into the Moritz.
For more information, check out the website of Barcelona’s famous beer: http://www.moritz.com/
If you rent apartments in Barcelona, make sure to visit the 39-43 Ronda Sant Antoni and enjoy an artisanal beer at the old Fábrica Moritz and their excellent food in a unique space where the past meets the present.
