As we already showed you the other day when we told you about the Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park, in Spain there are a lot of magical places that are worth visiting. Today we want to tell you about one of the most impressive in the entire peninsula. We are referring to Las Médulas , a spectacular landscape shaped by man in ancient times located in the town of the same name, in the Comarca del Bierzo, León.
Considered one of the 7 Natural Wonders of Spain, Las Médulas not only surprise for their reddish sands, their peaks and their rock formations that stand out among the trees, but they also attract attention for their importance in Roman times. Do you want to know more about this magical Spanish corner? Well, do not lose detail of what we tell you below! I assure you that you will want to escape to the Comarca del Bierzo as soon as you finish reading the article.
A mining operation of the Romans
In fact, Las Médulas is a natural environment made up of the remains of a gold mining operation from the Roman era. In fact, it is the largest gold mine excavated during the entire Roman Empire. And although today we are used to modifying nature with buildings and all kinds of touches in the landscape, before there were not so many mechanical resources, so ingenuity and talent prevailed when meeting the needs of governments. and the town. This is precisely what happened in what we now call the Comarca del Bierzo, where thousands of soldiers, slaves and wage earners were sent to extract gold from the earth.
Historical value
With the passage of time and erosion, the 300 million cubic meters extracted by the Romans have formed one of the most valuable archaeological sites in Spain. But beyond its historical importance, it is an extremely beautiful place due to the movement of the earth that occurred during the exploitation of gold.
Heritage of humanity by unesco
According to some research, this procedure was the most profitable, since the Romans extracted about 800,000 kilos of gold. As you can imagine, Las Médulas has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO , as well as an Asset of Cultural Interest as an Archaeological Zone, Natural Monument and Cultural Space.
Guided visits
You can visit Las Médulas every day of the year for free , although guided tours are also offered, which take place every day at 11:30 and 12:00. In addition, depending on the season of the year, visits are also made in the afternoon. What does the guided tour consist of? Well, on a circular route in which you will have to walk about 3 kilometers (round trip) in about two hours. During the tour two galleries are visited: La Cuevona and La Encantada. In addition, more information is available at the Visitor Center. Although the guided tour costs 3 euros per person, for arranged groups of more than 15 people the price is 2 euros per person. For its part, in the Archaeological Classroom you can find all the information to understand how the extraction of the mineral worked and how the mine and the engineering works for the water channeling changed the landscape. Of course, we recommend you to contemplate Las Médulas from the Mirador de Orellán, especially first thing in the morning or during sunset.
Then we leave you with our gallery , where you will discover some beautiful images of Las Médulas. Do not miss it!
