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Lousal

The Lousal Mines are in southern Portugal, in the Alentejo region. To be precise they are near Azinheira de Barros, a small village not far from Grândola. The Mines are part of the Iberian Pyrite Belt which is some 250 km long and in parts 40 Km wide. It begins in the Sado Valley and extends as far as the Guadalquivir Valley near Seville, Spain. The Mines were worked from 1900 to 1988 when they were closed.

The mines of Lousal (not far from Grandola) are part of the Iberian Pyrite belt that is some 250 km long and in parts 40 km wide. It begins in the Sado Valley and extends as far as the Guadalquivir Valley near Seville, Spain. The mines were worked from 1900 to 1988 when they were closed.

Less then ten years after the mines were closed their former owner and the local council have got together to devise an integrated development program with a cultural component that should regenerate Lousal economically and socially.
In 1996 the Portuguese Association for Industrial Archaeology was invited to take part in the cultural aspects of the program. The project is developed to transform the mines into a museum. The project is partially funded by European funds.
Now in 2005 some of the plans have been realized. The old mine offices are transformed into an arts and crafts centre were artisans can work and sell their products. The museum and machinery room are open for public.
(An underground Gallery is to be built, this will show the visitors how the work was done inside the mine. A play park based on the mining theme will be built for children.) The old directors house has been turned into a wonderful design hotel.
The previous steam PowerStation is now a restaurant.
(text by Alentejocoast)

Pictures of Lousal