The Foundry, Galicia, Spain
On The InnerBeing Project’s road through European Communities, we made our first stop at the Foundry in Bravos, Galicia, Spain.
The Foundry was a fort and ironworks from the 15th century. Both were destroyed by Napoleon’s armies over two centuries ago. Recycling the stonework of the ruined castle, people built a manor house from which the surrounding farms were administered. Then, in the 1970s, everyone left.
Now, the Foundry is a non-profit residency with three aims:
1. to offer a space for people to work on their projects;
2. to host events organized by members;
3. to increase self-sufficiency and sustainability.
The Foundry is not a hotel or tourist destination, but a space of work outside of the institutional confines of market and government funding. The Foundry occupies a group of old buildings in a valley in rural Galicia at 10 kilometers from the Atlantic coast. Since 2018, we have renovated the buildings, grown a food forest and organized many events. We welcome those interested to join us.
The Foundry is a founding member of the Aldear network, a member of the Commoning Space Network, and the birthplace of FreeingSpace and Futuro Habitable.