Guadiato coal

Living memory of Cordoba's industrial past

In 1788 a group of engineers discovered the first layers of coal in localities such as Espiel, Belmez, Valdeinfierno or Hontanilla. This discovery of 'black earth' was decisive for the development of the Guadiato Valley. The start-up of the Cerco Industrial de Peñarroya-Pueblonuevo, the construction of the railroad and the exploitation of mines such as Santa Rosa, La Terrible or La Luz by Encasur Endesa are some of the main milestones that have marked the history of this region in the north of the province of Córdoba.

The Cuenca del Guadiato Foundation, in collaboration with the Official Association of Technical Engineers and Graduates in Mines and Energy of the province of Cordoba, recover in the exhibition The coal of the Guadiato: cultural history of a mining region a small part of the industrial legacy of this area of just transition. It is a heritage collection made up of planimetries, photographs and various objects from the old mines, which arose thanks to the generous contributions of the citizens and entities of the area, especially with regard to the health issue.