Las Médulas. Wow!

Peregrinopaul

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• Jun 22, 2023

• #1

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

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• Jun 22, 2023

• #2

…to recover alluvial gold from the lower sedimentary layers.

 

C clearly

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• Jun 22, 2023

• #3

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

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• Jun 22, 2023

• #4

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

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• Jun 22, 2023

• #5

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

 

Peregrinopaul

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• Jun 22, 2023

• #6

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

Corned Beef said:

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

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

 

peregrina2000

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• Jun 23, 2023

• #7

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

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• Jun 23, 2023

• #8

peregrina2000 said:

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!

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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).

 

N

Natique2

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• Jun 23, 2023

• #9

Peregrinopaul said:

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

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• Jun 23, 2023

• #10

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

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• Jun 23, 2023

• #11

Peregrinopaul said:

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

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Peregrinopaul

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• Jun 24, 2023

• #12

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

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• Jun 24, 2023

• #13

peregrina2000 said:

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!

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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.