Zona de Couros, Guimarães
The Zona de Couros in Guimarães is the former tanning and leather-making district of the city.
The area lies outside the UNESCO World Heritage part of the old city but makes for a pleasant stroll through its historic streets.
The interesting Curtir Ciência Centro Ciência Viva de Guimarães museum is also in this area. It is located in the buildings of a former tanning factory.
History
The tanning industry has its roots in the city in the Middle Ages.
The raw materials for the industry was the hides of cattle slaughtered in the region. Later hides from Brazil and other overseas Portuguese colonies such as Angola and Mozambique supplied skins.
It was mainly in the 19th and first half of the 20th century that the tanneries were at their busiest, feeding the demand for leather in Europe during World War I and World War II.
The industry contributed to the prosperity of the town and was a source of much inward investment. It greatly contributed to other industries in the country such as the production of leather shoes and bags.
The skins were first soaked and then treated using the tannin from oak bark. The leather was then worked according to its end use. This might involve dyeing, etching, making the leather smoother or more flexible.
Both men and women were employed in the process.
Decline
From the 1960's onwards the business began to decline due to cheaper overseas competition, the unpopularity of a trade that was both dirty and strenuous and the transfer of investment funds into other industries, namely textiles.
In 2005 the last leather factory in the area closed its doors for ever.
Access
The area is located south of the old city between the Jardins da Alameda and Guimarães Station.
Nearby
The area is within easy walking distance of Centro Cultural Vila Flor (CCVF) and the Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Consolação e Santos Passos.
Hotels in Guimarães include the four star Santa Luzia ArtHotel, the four star EMAJ Boutique Hotel and the Hotel da Oliveira, also four star.
Hotels closer to the museum are the four star Hotel de Guimarães and the pleasant Stay Hotel Guimarães Centro, adjacent to the railway station. The budget HI Hostel Guimarães - Pousada de Juventude is also in this area.