Europe’s only underwater mine: more than 300 years old and located in Spain
There is a place in the north of Spain whose natural riches go beyond the robust landscapes of green-coloured rocks facing the ocean’s waves. In fact, the intuition of one 16th-century local clergyman led to the exploitation of the mysterious black rock appearing on the cliffs. That was precisely how Spain’s first documented coal mine began.
The Arnao Mine, a journey through time into the earth
Along the central Asturian coast in the district of Castrillón, the escarpment melds with the ocean spray and the salpetre-scented winds of the Cantabrian Sea. The Arnao Mine is a jewel in the crown of this region’s industrial heritage, where the story of human progress meets our planet’s geological past.
As a geological reserve, the beach at Arnao is a treasure trove of fossils dating from as far back as 400 million years ago. A walk around this area is an insight into the earth’s early years, when the abundance of life then would become today’s significant coal reserves. The visionary spirit of friar Agustín Montero of Naveces would turn this place into Asturias’ first coal mine.
Centuries of struggle against the might of the sea
In addition to Arnao Mine’s pioneering spirit, it is also commendable for being the only underwater mine in all of Europe. Courageous miners of that time, wearing no more protection than a simple beret, soon had to contend with the unrelenting power of the sea. Entrusting themselves to their faith and traditions, they forged the distinctive Asturian traditions of mining and industry.
A turning point for the mine was its purchase in 1833 by the Belgian company named the Real Compañía Asturiana de Minas. The headframe at the heart of the mining complex, listed as a Bien de Interés Cultural (a protected cultural heritage site), dates from this era. The complex expanded to include a mining village, factories, and all the necessary amenities for the workers, such as a company store and a school.
Closure and comeback of Europe’s only subaquatic mine
Alas, the struggle against the sea could not prevail. In 1915, after years of leaks, immense risk and a reverential dread of catastrophe, the mine shafts excavated below the sea were finally shuttered. A century would pass before the mining complex returned to life, renovated and reopened to the public as a prized jewel of Asturian heritage.
The unique underwater mine at Arnao, a tribute to many courageous generations, is presently a restored site dedicated to teaching about the bowels of the earth along with local history. Additionally, the solemnly framed beach of rock walls at Arnao is an invitation to contemplate and admire mother nature and the ideal complement to a visit in this area.
You can also read this article in Spanish.