Royal Tobacco Factory of Seville

Gorgeous building with a lot of history. Free to visit. There is a guided tour available which I had wanted to do but it is only available in Spanish.

Utter nonsense. There is no factory here anymore despite the reviews you may read below me. I feel bad giving this review a one star because it is still a nice looking building but people should know not to expect a tobacco factory. Was so disappointed when I went here as I was expecting to see how tobacco was made and to smell the fragrance of tobacco. I spoke to someone who said it had shut down 75 years ago. What are the people reviewing below me, smoking? (Pun intended).

Gigantic old stone edifice, close to old town, easy walk. Main entrance is all white, security on the left, WCs ('retrete') on the right. Gratis. A maze of halls, foyers, stairs (good maps on the wall). It's a working university, classrooms ('aula') and students everywhere so be invisible. Lots of white plaster statues in hallways (for sure copies of something), nice wall art, gorgeous enormous stairs. Interesting machine, 'liadador', for tying cigars. Makes you wonder why a common (tabacco) factory looks like this. Money was no apparently no issue to owners back then. In a way, that's the most amazing thing.

I was looking for this place and then realised it is part of the university now - no need to look for it on purpose, the moment you walk in, the exploratory journey starts. As a historical landmark, there is old vibe that you can smell in the building and it is interesting to think of how Carmen spent her time and life here.

Where the Toreador Song still echoes. The Real Fábrica de Tabacos is one of the most famous buildings of Seville. This enormous neoclassical building was commissioned by the royal family, built between 1728 and 1771 and could accommodate more than 10,000 (mainly female) employees. Most famous employee was Carmen, known from the opera of the same name by the French composer Georges Bizet. She was known for rolling cigars between her thighs. Since 1950 the former factory halls houses the rectorate of the University of Seville. Parts of the building are publicly accessible and even interesting for people who don't like opera.

It's the former tobacco factory, converted into a university. It is nice (and free) to walk through the building which is worth it. Other than that it's just a university so students everywhere and not much explanation of the history of the worlds first cigarette factory. If you love cats make sure to take a look in the moat around the factory where there are many!

I wanted to see this place because of its association with Carmen. Its a beautiful building and worth seeing but as it is now the University of Seville, the links to The Royal Tobacco Factory and Carmen have been lost.

Great historical university building with an exhibition of plaster casts