This year’s Meeting of the International Richemont Club was held  from 2nd  to 6th of September, 2022 in Portugal, the oldest European country. The delegation of  Richemont Club of Croatia was represented by 20 members. Although among the youngest Richemont associations, the Portuguese club took on the role of host very responsibly and conscientiously. The five-day journey began in the city of Porto. Porto is a city for all the senses – from the visual images of colorful houses on the steep streets that descend towards the Douro River, through the  experiences of wine, bread and fish to the  sound of the sea.

The attractive tourist program included a visit to the municipality of Valongo, where the Museum of Regueife (local sweet bread) and the Biscuit Museum and Workshop are located today. Aromas and old tastes are the result of the hard work of the local population and are an integral part of the gastronomic and cultural identity.

As part of the program, a visit to the Bakish Center – Ferneto, a Portuguese company for the development, innovation and sale of bakery equipment, was organized. In the demonstration bakery of the company, the Portuguese Richemont masters organized the production and tasting of various traditional bread products. Among other things, the participants tasted the inevitable Pasteis de Nata dessert, made of shortcrust pastry and  cream made from eggs.

The Croatian delegation spent their free time visiting the city of Coimbra, which has preserved its past – from Roman remains, through medieval fortifications to Renaissance and Baroque buildings. The former royal palace is now home to the University of Coimbra, one of the oldest in the world, so the city lives in a student rhythm. The tourist tour of this picturesque town ended with relaxation with the traditional music Fado.

The boat ride on the Douro River was a refreshing experience in the middle of a sunny day, and the participants were glad to know part of the tradition embodied in the character of a masked man (Coretto) who chooses an unmarried girl from a diverse society, dances with her and in this way tells her that he will get married next.

The Annual meeting of the presidents and members of the International  Richemont Clubs was held at the Hotel Turismo Sao Lazaro Breganca. At the meeting, current topics and upcoming activities were discussed all with the aim of strengthening and improving the work of the profession.

The gathering of Richemont delegations continued on the Spanish-Portuguese border in the twinned village of Rio de Onor. Villagers in their old age share agricultural lands and livestock, and even today they knead bread with their own hands and bake it in an old bread oven.

Before returning home, the Richemont society gathered at the Gala dinner, where the exchange of experiences and cheerful mood continued with suitable decent music and gastronomic delicacies. Between the two flights, the Croatian group had the opportunity to spend a few hours in Amsterdam, a city that has more canals than Venice and more bridges than Paris. Although short, it was a very sweet and unique experience.