2025 Bierzo Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in February)

Traveling westward in Spain ~ Leon (region) Carucedo is the starting point for the climb to Las Médulas, a landscape formed by red and craggy clay mountains set amidst green vegetation It stood out and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997. Las Médulas was a masterpiece of Roman engineering, who exploited the many rich gold deposits found in the area. To do this, they used a complex system of channels to divert water from the Aquilano Mountains, 15 kilometers away. The Romans would drill galleries into the mountains (some of which are still standing), flood them, and then wait for the water to cause the mountains to collapse into washhouses, where they would examine the fragments in search of gold. Over time, these washlands turned into lakes, such as Lake Pozosumido or Lake Redondo. In total, they extracted about 240 million cubic meters of soil for mineral separation, yielding an estimated 800,000 kilograms of gold. This mining process, combined with vegetation and natural erosion, managed to create the stunning landscapes we see today. #2024TravelReview #SpainTravel #Castilla-Leon

Traveling westward in Spain ~ Leon (region) Factory of light. The Energy Museum is an educational and cultural leisure space formerly located in the Ponferrada Power Station, which operated from 1920 to 1971. The museum takes visitors back in time to learn how electricity was generated at the turn of the last century, what society was like at the time, and how the use of coal was a driver of change in the region and its population. The center also offers guided tours, cultural and teaching programs, and interesting educational programs designed to make science interesting and engaging for all audiences. The facility is located in the former Minero Siderúrgica de Ponferrada (MSP) power station, considered one of Spain's 100 most precious examples of industrial heritage by the International Committee for the Protection of Industrial Heritage. Due to its careful restoration, it was awarded the European Star Award by the European Union in 2012. In 2015, the award was awarded to Factory of Light. The Energy Museum was nominated as the best European museum as part of the EMYA (European Museum of the Year Awards) awards. #2024TravelReview #SpainTravel #Castilla-Leon

Spain Westward Journey ~ León (Region) Very old blacksmith shop in the heart of nature. This is a unique opportunity to visit one of the very few working blacksmith shops in Spain, thanks to its declaration as a BIC and the family’s wish to continue operating it in order to be able to show it to visitors. The blacksmith shop is a 10-15 minute walk from the parking lot. This is an easy and beautiful trail with some grade. Tickets are purchased at the Blacksmith Shop itself. The blacksmith is the fourth generation of blacksmiths in the family, although the origins of the smithy date back to the sixth century, when it was created to supply materials to the Convent of Compludo. An ingenious mechanical device designed for working iron. The beautiful scenery will take you to another time and space. The old blacksmith shop is now fully functional. Through a guided tour, they will kindly show you how it works and the engineering and technology behind it. There are fixed visiting times in the morning (11:30-12:30-13:30) and afternoon, please see the information in the parking lot for details. Price: 4 Euros #2024TravelReview #SpainTravel #Castile-León