Industrial Zones

Territory - Museum: different industrial settlements 

The Conjunto Histórico de las Fábricas de Metales de Riópar (the historical area of the Metal Factories of Riópar) is made up of different industrial zones, all of them dependent upon each other. The factory complex must be perceived as a whole, spread along an extension of 10 km and with 22,700 sq.m of floor surface. Each part of the Historical Complex is related to the rest within a complete production process, from the extraction of the mineral from the insides of the mountain to metal tillage process, and the distribution of artistic and industrial items to the markets.

SAN JORGE

At the bottom of the Coto de la Mina (a calamine mine), and by the bank of the river Mundo, we can find the remains of SAN JORGE and San Agustín (near the Rosita mine, which began to be exploited after the exhaustion of St. George, in 1861). 


During the prosperous second half of the nineteenth century, tons of ore were removed; the accumulated slag is visible today. Near twentieth century, the shed type buildings were built, wich remain among the lush vegetation. Here the calamine was grounded and zinc was distilled, which alloyed with cupper  become brass.

EL LAMINADOR

Sailing up the river, we can find El Laminador village (San Miguel), founded by Graubner and reinvigorated in 1838. It is named after  the cylinder- machine made for laminating copper for ship planking of the Spanish Navy. 


During the nineteenth century, it was one of the busiest centers of the complex. Among the six former chimneys in the industrial core, there is one still standing, designed for removing fumes from the steam machine. 


SAN JUAN, located downtown, includes the management building and San Juan Church (Puerta del Arco); the brass melting workshop of San Rafael; the foundries, offices and machinery plant of San Carlos (where the Museum is located) and the sawn mill, San Pablo (formerly the Cartridges and Taps workshops). The working class houses on the streets of San Vicente, Jardines and Paseo del Prado give evidence of the structure of the labor colony.

SAN JUAN

All these industrial enclaves are connected by the hydraulic Caz, which through a system of canals and ponds was made to give movement to wheels and hammers, and by the twentieth century, to six hydroelectric  turbines that gave energetic independence to Riópar Factories.


Physically walk it by it is the best way to understand its structure, and to enjoy its beautiful landscape... for more information about the CAZ ROUTE click here.