グアディアナバレー自然公園のおすすめツーリングルート

アレンテージョ地方メルトラ郡にあるサン・ドミンゴス鉱山の遺跡は、イベリア半島で最も印象的で謎めいた放棄された産業景観の一つです。ローマ時代にまで遡る起源を持つこの複合施設は、1854年以降、英国のメイソン＆バリー社（Mason & Barry）の経営下で最盛期を迎え、1966年に閉鎖されるまで、銅黄鉄鉱と硫黄の大量採掘に特化した真の産業的飛び地となりました。放棄されたことで、ほぼ黙示録的な風景が広がり、赤みがかった土壌、酸性の水、そして老朽化した古い石造りの構造物が、写真家、好奇心旺盛な人々、そして産業観光愛好家を惹きつけています。👍🥾🚲

Mértola is a beautiful Alentejo village, bathed by the Guadiana River. It has a walking trail that I did and really enjoyed. 👍🥾

A beautiful spot from which you can anticipate the crossing from Portugal to Spain, crossing under the Chanza reservoir dam, next to the Guadiana River.

Mertola is a beautiful medieval town. If you're cycling along the Guadiana River, I recommend stopping by to explore its cobblestone streets and indulge in the delicious cuisine.

On the south bank of the Guadiana, before crossing into the city, you have a beautiful view of Mértola, especially with its castle at the top of the hill and the rest of the city spread out over the hill.

Along the Ribeira do Geraldo, the Tapada Grande Dam Reservoir holds an unexpected treasure: this serene river beach, with golden sands, fresh lawns, and every comfort for leisure. Once a vital reservoir for the old mining industry, today it is a setting for rest and harmony. Nearby stands the town of Minas de São Domingos, born of the mining past and still marked by the memory of this unique heritage.

The São Domingos Mine is a living memory of a time of fire and iron. Here, where the earth opened up to reveal gold, silver, and copper since ancient times, one of the greatest legacies of the Iberian Pyrite Belt arose in the 19th century. Between 1854 and 1966, millions of tons of ore were extracted here, leaving not only its mark on the soil and landscape, but also progress: one of the country's first railway lines and the first power plant in the Alentejo. Today, the former mining complex is a public heritage site, a place of contrasts and rare beauty.

The old, abandoned copper mines resemble a lunar landscape: a strange and fascinating stage, illuminated by the reflections of copper-hued lakes. A road cuts through the landscape, guiding you along dirt roads. Streams and wells glow in unlikely colors, from copper to green to deep black. Signs warn of the dangers of the water, but nothing prevents your gaze from losing itself in the dramatic and unsettling beauty of the place.