Parc Miner del Maestrat

Useful Information

Location:	South of La Torre d'En Besora. From the crossing CV-165/CV-166 follow CV-165 south for 450 m, turn right 2.6 km to the mine. (40.31008400845492, -0.09841447897859941)
Open:	All year Tue, Sat, Sun, Hol. JUL Wed, Fri-Sun, Hol. AUG Wed-Sun. Reservation required for all visits! [2020]
Fee:	Adults EUR 12, Children (4-12) EUR 6.50, Seniors EUR 9.60. Families: Adults EUR 9.60, Children (4-12) EUR 5.20. Groups (24+): reductions available. [2020]
Classification:	Eisen
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours:	D=2 h, Max=25.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Parc Miner del Maestrat, 12161 La Torre d'En Besora, Castellón, Tel: +34-651-177-071. E-mail: Restaurante Els Miners, Partida la mina, 12161 Torre D'En Besora (la), Castellón
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1940s	beginning of mining.
1960s	end of mining.
2003	beginning of development as a show mine.
2011	opened to the public

Geology

The iron mines exploited deposits of limonite, goethite and hematite.

Description

The Parc Miner del Maestrat in the la Fontanella nature protection area is located at a height of 800 m asl. The outlook from the mine is impressive. From the town of Torre d'En Besora its a 3 km drive on a narrow road to the top of the hill. First follow CV-165 towards Atzeneta del Maestrat, from the crossing with CV-166 it is 450 m to the turnoff. At the brown sign Parc Miner del Maestrat turn right on the single lane road. After 2.6 km you reach the mine entrance and the Restaurante Els Miners.

The tour takes 2 hours and shows the Mina Esperanza I. and the Mina Nova Victoria II.. The mines are entered with a mine train, a tourist train connects the two mines, which are 600 m apart. I inside both mines is a round course for walking. The exhibits include the mine, the iron ore deposits, mining tools and machinery, but also audiovisuals and holograms. There are special educational tours for school classes.

The park has an area of 6 hectares and beneath the two show mines there are the entrances to the Gallery 4 which is not open to the public. There are six straight tunnels which are each 4 km long. Those tunnels are a result of only 20 years of mining between the 1940s and 1960s. The ore was transported to Altos Hornos de Sagunto, the blast furnaces and steel works at Puerto de Sagunto, where it was processed and then sold. The iron works are also open to the public and part of the steel route. The mine was restored with almost one Million Euros from the Provincial Council, the Department of Tourism and LEADER funds.

The mine has become quite popular and is said to be the second most visited tourist spot in the province of Castellón after the castle of Morella. It seems the tourism is mostly domestic and as far as we understood there are no tours in foreign languages. Also, it is necessary to make a reservation by phone. It is not possible to just go to the ticket office and buy tickets. Actually its quite difficult as open days and hours change frequently. If you have a reservation be there at least 15 minutes before the start to collect your tickets. Bring warm clothes, as the train ride through the cool mine is cold, and wear good walking shoes.