Adventure in El Bierzo: Gold, Tungsten and Coal Mines

What an Adventure in El Bierzo is waiting for us! Where we will visit the main mining exploitations that have historically occurred in El Bierzo, province León. We will travel by e-Bike or by foot through different landscapes where mining at some point in history was booming. A paradise for lovers of geology and adventure with al facilities.

We will start our adventure in El Bierzo riding our electric bicycle to get to the tungsten mines of Peña do Seo, also known as the Poblado de la Piela. This Wolfram mine was booming in the mid-20th century during the major wars that rocked the world. Tungsten was illegally mined to supply the Germans to strengthen the steel of tanks and shells, this historical fact created a great world crisis. Our route will leave Dragonte through chestnut trees to reach the Mines located below the Peña do Seo (1,575 meters). Once in the town we will visit several mines.

We will continue in Las Médulas our adventure in El Bierzo. Las Médulas were the largest gold mines in the Roman Empire. These mines are characterized by the conglomerate formations, sands and clays that the water formed to be finally filtered and obtain the precious gold. Our electric bike route will help us to discover the secrets of this beautiful natural monument declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco and its surroundings such as Cornatel Castle.

The coal mines were one of the most valuable resources that both el Bierzo and Laciana had. Before starting our trek through the Alto Sil we will visit one of the most famous mines in el Bierzo where they will guide us to know all the secrets of how coal was extracted. We will cross an open pit mine, the Gran Corta de Fabero, the largest open pit anthracite mine in Spain. Then we will go through the mine of Santa Cruz del Sil, famous for being the scene of one of the longest demanding bull runs in the sector. Once in the municipality of Páramo del Sil we will do a trekking where we will look for vestiges of the Carboniferous and Permian, fossils of neuropteris and stigmatas, while we walk in the land of bears and wolves.

We will say goodbye to our adventure in El Bierzo with a route through another geological era and we will get into the limestone terrain of the Silurian. A short trek that will take us from la Herrería to Peñalba de Santiago through the Silence Valley making a stop at the Monastery of Montes de Valdueza. A trail full of stories and legends ending in one of the most beautiful towns in Spain.