English

Of castros and romans
Interpretation Centre of the Gold Mines of Castromil and Banjas (Paredes)
Gold mine of Castromil (Paredes)
in the Médulas (Carucedo, León), was
equally employed in the smaller mines
in Ribas de Sil (Lugo) or Viana do Bolo
(Ourense), three settlements whose visit
is recommended from O Barco de
Valdeorras.
In Paredes, a different system was
used to exploit an auriferous vein that
reached the neighbouring municipality
of Valongo. In the sites of Castromil
and Banjas, both in the parish of
Sobreira, they took advantage of
important gold seams through a
mixed system of cortas or open-pit
clearings of huge amounts of land,
combined with underground galleries
where even excavated receptacles
to hold chandeliers or oil lamps are
kept. The mines can be visited and an
interpretation centre has recently been
created for its better understanding.
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