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.
Panoramic view of Las Médulas
Panorama of Las Médulas, 2018
Rock-cut aqueduct in La Cabrera
Ghost town "Orellán" at Las Médulas, 1st–2nd centuries AD)
Ponferrada is a city of Spain, located in the autonomous community of Castile and León. Ponferrada, the second most populated municipality of the Province of León, is also the capital city of El Bierzo, the only comarca recognized as an administrative entity by law in the region.
Ponferrada
Las Médulas
The Sil as it passes through Ponferrada
Facade of the Templar Castle, built in the 12th century.