Las Médulas. Wow!

[Peregrinopaul]

I’ve made a detour from Ponferrada - off the Francés. I had to see this. The view from the Mirador de Orellan took my breath away. I’d seen lots of photos on the net, and mine is probably not as good as any, but to see this with your own eyes…!
For anyone who doesn’t already know, there used to be a mountain here. The Roman engineers blasted it into oblivion using water under pressure from storage tanks in the higher mountains. They called the technique “Ruina Montium”. ’Nuff said.

 

[Peregrinopaul]

…to recover alluvial gold from the lower sedimentary layers.

 

[C clearly]

Good photo and beautiful day. I'm glad you took that side trip, and approached from the Mirador. Did you go into the tunnel?

 

[Peregrinopaul]

Not yet. It took all my stamina to tackle the hills around here. I’m going below, and back tomorrow. Wel worth the effort.

 

[Corned Beef]

Where are you off to after this? Following the Inverno or back on the Frances?

 

[Peregrinopaul]

I’m willing to bet that the climb to Orellan was steeper in parts than that to Orisson!

Where are you off to after this? Following the Inverno or back on the Frances?

Back to the Francés at Cacabelos. Hostal Siglo! This was a deliberate detour. My hostal in Orellan is fabulous.

 

[peregrina2000]

Buen camino, @Peregrinopaul, don’t miss the little museum right across from the hotel at the road entrance into town. I thought it was really interesting. There is a second “information center” futher into the area itself, but I’ve never been there. The museum, though, is worth a stop since you’ll be spending more time here anyway!

 

[Peregrinopaul]

Buen camino, @Peregrinopaul, don’t miss the little museum right across from the hotel at the road entrance into town. I thought it was really interesting. There is a second “information center” futher into the area itself, but I’ve never been there. The museum, though, is worth a stop since you’ll be spending more time here anyway!

I definitely will. Today I plan to ride the perimetro around the whole site. More to follow! (Hopefully an early morning photo from the mirador).

 

[Natique2]

I’ve made a detour from Ponferrada - off the Francés. I had to see this. The view from the Mirador de Orellan took my breath away. I’d seen lots of photos on the net, and mine is probably not as good as any, but to see this with your own eyes…!
For anyone who doesn’t already know, there used to be a mountain here. The Roman engineers blasted it into oblivion using water under pressure from storage tanks in the higher mountains. They called the technique “Ruina Montium”. ’Nuff said.

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How do you get here from the Camino? How long of a detour is it?

 

[Peregrinopaul]

It’s maybe 25km SW of Ponferrada, along a good road, and also the Camino Invierno track. The CI passes through the village of Las Médulas.

 

[QuailHiker]

I’ve made a detour from Ponferrada - off the Francés. I had to see this. The view from the Mirador de Orellan took my breath away. I’d seen lots of photos on the net, and mine is probably not as good as any, but to see this with your own eyes…!
For anyone who doesn’t already know, there used to be a mountain here. The Roman engineers blasted it into oblivion using water under pressure from storage tanks in the higher mountains. They called the technique “Ruina Montium”. ’Nuff said.

View attachment 149890

 

[Peregrinopaul]

Traversing the site down below, among the chestnut trees reminded me of riding through the parkland of an English country house - until the views opened up.

 

[Peregrinopaul]

Buen camino, @Peregrinopaul, don’t miss the little museum right across from the hotel at the road entrance into town. I thought it was really interesting. There is a second “information center” futher into the area itself, but I’ve never been there. The museum, though, is worth a stop since you’ll be spending more time here anyway!

Yes it was. And a €0.40 entrance fee that the staff member waived! The museum in town does not have much - more a souvenir shop. But it has an explanatory video worth watching.