The building where the Fábrica de Tabacos Francisco Donatién is located today, dates back to 1859, when it was built as a prison building. Later the local authorities decided to transform this old prison building into a tobacco factory where authentic, top-quality cigars are made using artisanal procedures with several centuries of tradition, as 80% of the national tobacco production comes from the territory of Pinar del Rio.
However, it was not until 1961 that the factory was inaugurated.
It is home of Vegueros cigars, a lesser-known brand but one that’s well respected among connoisseurs. Several fine brands are rolled at this renowned cigar factory.
One-storey building has large columns of the Tuscan order, high arches and a sober façade. Originally the prison building had large plank windows protected by thick iron balusters. In the 20th century the windows were replaced by the shutters. Only the large door made of nailed planks remains.
Right at the entrance of the building, you will encounter the seductive aroma emanating from tobacco leaves. There are several rooms where visitors can see that the cigars are hand rolled skillfully, the good ones selected, classified, labeled and packaged.
The process of rolling a cigar by hand, the stage that the visitors are most curious about, is carried out by torcedors with the equipment consisted of a board, a blade or key, a guillotine, vegetable gum, a press and molds, in the largest room of the building. Each torcedo is able to roll between 60 and 110 cigars a day, depending on the size of the cigar.
At the entrance of the building there is the Estanco I store and opposite it another, La Casa del Habano, where endless numbers of brands and of course, the boxes of Francisco Donatién, are waiting for you.
Tours are offered with a specialized guide service, but cameras are not allowed.
