Mina dos Alemáns

Mina dos Alemáns (Mina de Valborraz) is an abandoned tungsten mine in the parish of Casaio, in the municipality of Carballeda de Valdeorras, in the Ourense province of Galicia. The Galician name translates literally as "the Germans' mine" — a nickname that stuck for good, even though the site's history is more layered than a single period of German control.

Where does the name come from?

The deposit was first opened in 1914 by a Belgian mining company drawn by the site's tungsten ore, a metal essential for hardening steel. In 1938, ownership of the mine passed to a consortium of firms tied to German capital, and it operated under that management until the end of World War II in 1945. It was this stretch under direct German industrial control that gave the mine its popular name — making it one of the few mining operations in Spain run directly by German-linked companies.

Why did tungsten matter so much?

During World War II, Galicia became one of Europe's key sources of tungsten, prized for producing hardened tungsten steel used in weapons manufacturing. The Valdeorras area, alongside the Barbanza, Bergantiños and Xallas districts, accounted for a substantial share of Spain's tungsten output at the time, which turned the region into a point of interest for both sides of the conflict.

What happened to the mine after the war?

Extraction did not stop immediately after 1945 — the outbreak of the Korean War (1950-1953) pushed demand for tungsten up again, bringing a further period of activity to Valborraz. The site was eventually abandoned in the early 1960s, closing out nearly half a century of mining that had begun even before World War I.

What can visitors see there today?

The former mine now stands as an industrial archaeology site, preserving around thirty structures from both its Belgian and German periods — the remains of service buildings, mining installations and support structures in varying states of decay. The local land community of Casaio-Lardeira, together with the Sputnik Labrego association, has been working to restore one of the buildings so visitors interested in this industrial heritage have somewhere to shelter and learn about the site.

How do you get there?

A hiking route of roughly 6.5 km leads to the mine's remains, starting at the Iglesia Nueva de San Gil church in Casaio. The path crosses an old slate quarry area, and its first stretch — up to Vadebuey and the track coming from Fonte da Cova — is passable by off-road vehicle; beyond that point the trail climbs and continues on foot only, up to the remaining mining structures.

What else is worth combining with a visit?

Nearby, within Carballeda de Valdeorras, the Teixadal de Casaio — an ancient yew forest and one of the more valuable natural sites in Galicia — is worth a stop, along with the Sobradelo area on the Sil river, known for its natural swimming pools and a stone bridge dating from 1675.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Germans run the mine from the very beginning? No. The deposit was opened in 1914 by a Belgian company; German management began only in 1938 and lasted until 1945, but it was this period that gave the mine its popular name.

Can the mine site be visited? The site is reachable on foot via a trail from Casaio, and the surviving structures can be viewed from outside; the mine has not been in operation since it was abandoned in the early 1960s.

How long does the hike to the mine take? The trail is about 6.5 km one way, and part of the initial stretch can be covered by off-road vehicle before the path starts to climb.

Why was tungsten so valuable during this period? Tungsten was used to produce hardened steel for weapons manufacturing, which sharply raised its strategic value during World War II and turned Galicia into a significant part of Europe's tungsten mining map.