To the west of the province of Leon, in the heart of El Bierzo, is located one of the most iconic and genuine landscapes of Castile and León. This scenario, sometimes enigmatic and always captivating, is the fruit of the direct action of man. Two millennia ago, Rome extended its empire to these lands and discovered that beneath the generous landscape there was a subsoil rich in gold.
Through the system known as "ruina montium" mountains were destroyed to extract their riches, using water brought from dozens of kilometers through a unique network of canals on the Peninsula. This masterful exercise in mining and hydraulic engineering constitutes a historical and cultural milestone, but it is also a magnificent example of human capabilities to transform a landscape. This lesson, as well as the necessary sensitivity to conserve the natural environment, is what the Casa del Parque de las Médulas proposes, in addition to the general vision of this Natural Monument declared a World Heritage Site.
The entrance to the exhibition space is through a ramp in which images and sounds recreate the transformation process of the mountain in Roman times until leaving the image of reddish peaks that catches the eye today.
In the space called "The Cave" the images, interactives and videos make a special call to the transformation of the environment and the need to do it well.
The didactic visit to the Casa del Parque enters the field of sustainability through information panels and games to understand the environmental problems of the past and the paths to follow to avoid repeating them, in addition to the values of other spaces in the Network of Natural Spaces of Castile and León.
The rich ethnographic heritage is also present. Thus, fishing in Lake Carucedo, the cultivation of vines and chestnut trees, whose origins date back to Roman times, are part of a secular culture that can be approached through audiovisuals and manipulatives.
The Casa del Parque de las Médulas has rooms for organizing activities related to the natural space that seek greater dissemination and knowledge of its values.
