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Natural Monuments

Las Médulas Roman Gold Mines

Natural Monuments

Las Médulas Roman Gold Mines

Highlight • Historical Site

Las Médulas Roman Gold Mines

Recommended by 29 hikers out of 30

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Location: Carucedo, Bierzo, León, Castile and León, Spain

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Best Hikes to Las Médulas Roman Gold Mines

4.8

(24)

146

hikers

1. Reirigo Cave – Orellán Galleries loop from Carucedo

14.3km

04:19

410m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Moderate

4.9

(15)

hikers

2. Las Médulas – Las Médulas Roman Gold Mines loop from Carucedo

8.62km

02:37

260m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Moderate

5.0

(7)

hikers

3. Las Médulas – Las Médulas Roman Gold Mines loop from Carucedo

7.68km

02:17

190m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Moderate

Tips

JavierCR 🇪🇸

December 23, 2022

It was the most important gold mine, as well as the largest open pit gold mine in the entire Roman Empire.

Translated by Google •

🌍S🏆E🐙R🏃‍♂️G🚶‍♂️I🧟‍♂️O🇪🇸

September 10, 2022

The area of the medulla (former Roman gold mine) offers the opportunity to enjoy a large number of routes and a landscape that will remain etched in the retina. Comfortable shoes, water and snack is advisable.

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Peter Franken

July 28, 2024

The extraordinary landscape is a result of the ruina montium, a Roman mining technique. Pliny the Elder describes it in his Naturalis historia as drilling holes in the mountains and then flooding them with large amounts of water. This is said to have literally eroded the hills. In order to bring the required amounts of water from the Sierra de la Cabrera, a canal system over 100 kilometers long was built. Parts of this system are still preserved today.
Under the reign of Augustus, the area was finally occupied by the Romans after lengthy campaigns (Cantabrian War, 29-19 BC). In addition, the Cantabrian region was also of economic interest to the Romans due to its mineral wealth.

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Elevation 800 m

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See hikes here

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Location: Carucedo, Bierzo, León, Castile and León, Spain

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Las Médulas Roman Gold Mines

1. Reirigo Cave – Orellán Galleries loop from Carucedo

2. Las Médulas – Las Médulas Roman Gold Mines loop from Carucedo

3. Las Médulas – Las Médulas Roman Gold Mines loop from Carucedo

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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