Aljustrel Mining Park

Category: Nature > Park

District: Beja > Aljustrel > Aljustrel > Bairro Plano

Location

The Aljustrel Mining Park is integrated into the urban fabric of the town, specifically in the area known as Bairro Plano. This privileged location establishes a direct link between the residential core and the old mining exploration fields. Upon visiting the park, one immediately perceives how industrial activity shaped the landscape and the life of the community, with mining vestiges coexisting harmoniously with the urban environment. It is a place that allows for immersion in local history and geography, showing how the town and the mine have always been intrinsically linked.

A Journey Through Time: The History of the Mine

Aljustrel boasts one of the most extensive and rich histories of mining exploration in the Iberian Peninsula. The first signs of extractive activity date back more than five thousand years, to the Chalcolithic period. However, it was in Roman times that mining experienced significant development, with the emergence of the settlement of Vipasca and the intense extraction of copper and silver, a legacy documented by artifacts such as the famous bronze plates with mining rules. Throughout the centuries, from Visigothic and Islamic rule to the Middle Ages, activity continued, albeit at varying paces.

Large-scale mining resumed in the 19th century, driving a period of great development for the town, with the construction of essential infrastructure and a profound social and economic transformation. The Mining Park is a living testament to this evolution, narrating human resilience and constant adaptation to the demands of an industry that, for millennia, defined Aljustrel's identity.

The Visible Legacy: Mining Heritage

The Aljustrel Mining Park preserves and enhances a remarkable set of structures that bear witness to the evolution of mining techniques and importance. One of the highlights is the Vipasca Headframe, which stands imposingly over the old Eyben shaft, symbolizing 19th-century mining engineering. Nearby, an old locomotive, carefully restored, evokes the fundamental role that rail transport played in moving the ore.

The old Compressor Station has been converted into a museum space, where it is possible to understand the functioning of the complex compressed air equipment that operated in the underground galleries. The Transtagana Chimney, an iconic 19th-century structure, has also been recovered, asserting itself in the landscape as a historical and cultural landmark. The Reception and Interpretation Center, the starting point for the park experience, integrates a museum core enriched with historical pieces and a reproduction of a mining gallery, offering a detailed introduction to the underground universe.

Exploring the Depths: The Underground Gallery

One of the most engaging and differentiating aspects of the Aljustrel Mining Park is the unique opportunity to explore an authentic underground gallery. The old gallery of Level 30 has been meticulously restored to welcome visitors, providing an immersive and realistic experience. Descending to these depths, it is possible to feel the atmosphere, the dimensions, and the conditions in which miners worked, gaining an intimate perspective on the magnitude and challenges of ore extraction.

This unique feature distinguishes the Mining Park from other similar projects, allowing for a deep understanding of the techniques and daily life that shaped the region's history. It is a true journey into the heart of the earth and Aljustrel's mining past.

The Renewed Landscape: Routes and Views

In addition to its historical structures, the Aljustrel Mining Park offers a redeveloped landscape that invites exploration. Visitors can traverse the area through an extensive network of cycle paths and walkways, which wind through the old mining concessions. One of the most interesting routes leads to the "Iron Hat" area, where one can observe reddish-hued rock outcrops, a result of mineral oxidation, which stand out vividly in the Alentejo landscape.

This environment offers panoramic views of the territory transformed by mining and the environmental recovery interventions that characterize it. The meticulously rehabilitated mining neighborhoods are integrated into the route, serving as a reminder of the community that dedicated generations to the exploitation of underground resources, linking human history to the evolution of the landscape.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt