Entering the Hunting and Nature Museum of Los Yébenes (Toledo), owned by the Garoz family and opened 15 years ago, is a fabulous journey around the world without leaving an enclosure of about 1,000 square meters. “People are surprised when they enter because they think it’s going to be old-fashioned, but it’s not like that. There is a representation of animals from all continents,” explains Juan Ramón Garoz, a taxidermist by profession with his brother Juan José.
But the collection will change location in three years. It is close to 1,200 pieces, collected since 2000, They will be part of the Museum of Hunting and Nature (Mucama) that will open its doors in Ciudad Real, in a space of 5,100 square meters located in the university area of the city of La Mancha.
“We will give it to the Spanish people” said Juan Ramón. Thus, visitors will be able to enjoy an anthology of three generations, started by his grandfather Juan Garoz Pedraza and continued by his father, Juan Garoz Cedillo.
“Some pieces were hunted by my brother Juan José and myself; others transferred and others obtained during our trips accompanying clients. “We bought the skin and the trophy and then we worked on them in our taxidermy workshop,” says Juan Ramón.
The tour is an impressive journey around the world without leaving the location.
In his museum, permanently closed to the public since July 1, there is a representation of animals from all continents, as well as costumes of characters dedicated to hunting, such as a royalist, a partridge scout or a forest ranger.
This move is due to the fact that the gallery is private and does not receive any institutional support. “They were requested, because we are a foundation or a non-profit association. But having received no subsidy or response from anyone, they offered to take it to Ciudad Real and we will do it. “We are going to give all the pieces,” justifies Juan Ramón.
He adds that they do not want to leave an “embolao” to their heirs and considers that in the new museum, which aspires to be the best in the world, “That’s where it will be best preserved.”
On behalf of the Provincial Council of Ciudad Real, he and his brother are also working on the project of the appearance of the Ciudad Real Museum, elements that will be present in the exhibition; what is called, in short, the explanatory scenario. “It’s going to be impressive, spectacular”predicts Juan Ramón. Because, in addition to his collection, three other private collections located in Madrid, the Alcázar de San Juan and Switzerland will travel to the capital of La Mancha. “Collections of clients and friends as important as ours,” he boasts.
