Las Médulas
Overview
In the 1st century A.D. the Roman Imperial authorities began to exploit the gold deposits of this region in north-west Spain, using a technique based on hydraulic power. After two centuries of working the deposits, the Romans withdrew, leaving a devastated landscape. Since there was no subsequent industrial activity, the dramatic traces of this remarkable ancient technology are visible everywhere as sheer faces in the mountainsides and the vast areas of tailings, now used for agriculture.
About Las Médulas
Las Médulas is a historic gold-mining site near the town of Ponferrada in the comarca of El Bierzo. It was the most important gold mine, as well as the largest open-pit gold mine, in the entire Roman Empire. Las Médulas Cultural Landscape is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Advanced aerial surveys conducted in 2014 using LIDAR have confirmed the wide extent of the Roman-era works.
Read more on WikipediaSelection Criteria
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Components(4 locations)
- •Estéiles de Yeres803-004
- •Estéiles de la Balouta803-002
- •Estéiles de Valdebría803-003
- •Zona principal de la mina de oro de Las Médulas803-001
Details
- Countries
- Spain
- ISO Codes
- ES
- Area
- 2,208.2 ha
- Coordinates
- 42.4694, -6.7707
Stay Nearby
Las Médulas
Attractions & Tickets
Las Médulas
Getting Here
Las Médulas