The Museum is housed in the former La Vila mill, alongside La Bassa, a natural spring from which 12 million litres of water formerly flowed every day. The water was fed into channels to be used by the 16 paper mills, known as the La Costa Mills.

Thanks to the abundance of water and this privileged geographical setting, during the 18th and 19th centuries Capellades was one of the most important papermaking centres in Europe, its mills supplying the Spanish, South American and Philippine markets.

First opened in 1961, the Museum preserves a major collection of original tools and machinery, as well as documents about paper. The various exhibitions reveal the history of paper and its relationship with printing.

This is also a living museum which continues to make paper by hand. Visitors can see craftspeople making paper in the flesh, and also have the opportunity to make some themselves in the workshop.