Arca arxiu restored ahead of Casa de la Vall reopening

The conservation and restoration team from the Department of Cultural Heritage has finished work on the arca arxiu as part of final preparations for the Casa de la Vall, which will reopen to the public on 23 December. The restoration was carried out alongside other recent interventions inside the building.

The arca arxiu, the predecessor of the Consell General de les Valls’ armari de les sis claus and customarily displayed in the chapel area, was found in poor condition during preliminary studies. According to the Consell General, the wood was soiled and the lock mechanisms were largely unusable after years of decay. The conserved object retains six locks, fitted together in a rectangular arrangement to fulfil the same function as the later armari.

Restoration work focused on improving the chest’s appearance while respecting and preserving its original materials and construction. Conservators applied techniques intended to stabilise the wood and recover original finishes without altering historic fabric.

Work on other Casa de la Vall elements has also concluded in recent days, including the figure of Saint Ermengol and the oratory, leaving the interior collections ready for the site’s scheduled reopening.