Category: Civil Architecture > Ironworks
District: Beja > Mértola > Moreanes > Fornos de ustulação
The Altos-Fornos 2 Blast Furnaces Unit is located in the Calcination Furnaces Zone, in the locality of Moreanes, integrated into the municipality of Mértola. This setting places it in the heart of Alentejo, a region characterized by a landscape of rolling plains, punctuated by Mediterranean vegetation and an atmosphere of rural tranquility. Its position reflects the intimate connection of the area to a past of industrial and mining activity, shaping a cultural landscape where human intervention and nature intertwine.
This site is a testament to the industrial history of the Mértola region, particularly concerning ore processing. As its name suggests, the Altos-Fornos 2 Blast Furnaces Unit housed large furnaces, central to the transformation of extracted raw materials. The remaining structures, though disused, allow for an understanding of the scale and importance of the operations that developed here, reflecting the engineering and human effort of an era when industry was a pillar of the local economy. The site evokes the memory of a period of intense industrial activity.
The Altos-Fornos 2 Blast Furnaces Unit features a functional architecture, typical of the large industrial infrastructures of the last century. Its buildings and the volumes of the old furnaces, built with robust materials like brick and iron, stand out in the landscape, revealing their practical purpose. The observation of these architectural elements offers a glimpse into the constructive solutions and industrial typologies of that era, lending the site value as industrial heritage. It is a space where one can grasp the materiality of the history of labor and technology.
Visiting the Altos-Fornos 2 Blast Furnaces Unit invites contemplation of a landscape that bears the marks of an era. The site is not just a collection of ruins; it is a point of reflection on how industry shaped the territory and communities. The fusion of industrial structures with the natural surroundings, which progressively reclaims them, creates a scene of particular and melancholic beauty. It is a place that allows for an understanding of the region's historical dimension, linking the present to the memory of a working-class past and the transformation of the landscape.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 37.64728934778688, -7.511241969548115
Coordinates DMS: 37°38'50.2"N 07°30'40.5"W
On-duty Pharmacy Moreanes
