Page 356 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

354  CENTR AL SP AIN

1 El Bierzo To the north of the A6 high way
lies the Sierra de Ancares, a
León. £ Ponferrada. @ Ponferrada.
n C/ Gil y Carrasco, Ponferrada, 987 wild region of rounded, slate
42 42 36. ∑ turismodelbierzo.es mountains marking the borders
of Galicia and Asturias. Part of it
This northwestern region of now forms the Reserva Nacional
León province was at one time de los Ancares Leoneses, an
the bed of an ancient lake. attractive nature reserve. The
Sheltered by hills from the heathland is home to deer, wolves,
worst extremes of Central brown bears and capercaillies.
Spain’s climate, its sun-soaked, Several villages high in the
alluvial soils make for fertile hills contain pallozas – primitive,
orchards and vineyards. Over pre-Roman stone dwellings.
the centuries, the area has also One of the most striking col-
yielded rich mineral pickings lections can be found in isolated
including coal, iron and gold. Campo del Agua, in the west.
Many hiking routes and pic nic A palloza in the Sierra de Ancares
spots are within reach of the E Herrería de Compludo
main towns of Ponferrada and operation. Using slave labour, Compludo. Tel 661 250 756.
Villafranca del Bierzo. millions of tonnes of alluvium Open Wed–Sun & public hols. &
In the eastern section, you were washed from the hills of } Las Médulas
can trace the course of the old Las Médulas by a complex Tel 987 42 07 08. Open 11am–2pm,
Road to Santiago (see pp86–7) system of canals and sluice 4–8pm daily (Oct–Mar: to 6pm).
through the Montes de León, gates. The ore was then panned, Closed public hols. & 8
past the pilgrim church and and the gold dust col lected ∑ fundacionlasmedulas.org
medieval bridge of Molinaseca. on sheep’s wool. It is estimated
Turning off the road at the that more than 500 tonnes of 2 Villafranca del
re mote village of El Acebo, precious metal were extracted
you pass through a deep valley between the 1st and 4th Bierzo
where there are signs pointing centu ries AD. These ancient León. * 3,500. @ n Avenida Díez
to the Herrería de Compludo, work ings lie within a memo- Ovelar 10, 987 54 00 28. ( Tue.
a water-powered 7th-century rable landscape of wind-eroded _ Santo Tirso (28 Jan), Spring Fiesta
ironworks. The equipment still crags, and hills pierced by (1 May), Fiesta del Cristo (14 Sep).
works and is demonstrated tun nels and colonized by ∑ villafrancadelbierzo.org
regularly, although the site is gnarled chestnut trees. You can
currently closed for restoration. best appreciate the area from Emblazoned mansions line the
The Lago de Carucedo, to the a viewpoint at Orellán, which is ancient streets of this delightful
southwest of Ponferrada, is an reached via a rough, steep track. town. The solid, early 16th-
ancient artificial lake. It acted Las Médulas, a village south century, drum-towered castle
as a reservoir in Roman times, a of Carucedo, is another place is still inhabited. Near the Plaza
by-product of a vast gold-mining to go for a fine view. Mayor a number of imposing

Craggy, tree-clad hills around the ancient gold workings near the village of Las Médulas
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp569–70 and pp594–5

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