Pedredo combines a history of routes with traces of Roman gold mining. The Camino Gallego passes through the village; at Los Fuellos and elsewhere, the forms of mining can be seen in the landscape. Churches, a chapel and a castro add architectural and settlement history to this picture. When planning a stay, it helps to distinguish between the themes: routes, mining and buildings offer different ways to explore the same place.

Route history: two paths, two connections

The Camino Gallego passes through Pedredo. The old Camino Viejo de Astorga ran between Pedredo and the local castro. This brings two distinct geographical connections into focus: the route through the settlement and the historic path between the village and the castro. This distinction helps place Pedredo’s route history in context, rather than treating both names as variants of the same route.

Los Fuellos and traces of mining

Los Fuellos is a gold mine from the Roman Imperial period in Pedredo. Visible mining features there include trenches and open-cut workings at the confluence of the Arroyo del Ganso and the Turienzo, at the foot of the Corona de Pedredo. In addition, washing and settling channels, as well as water-collection basins from the mining operations, are clearly visible on the outskirts of Pedredo in the direction of Murias de Pedredo. The water supply is also part of the history of these operations: the Arroyo de Pedredo and the Arroyo del Ganso supplied water to the mining operations at Los Fuellos. The mining can therefore be understood not only through its Roman dating, but also through its traces in the terrain and its links to water.

Viewpoints and orientation

The Mirador de Castro Pedredo offers a different view of the mining landscape: from there, you can see the large depression of Mina Fuellos, created by one of the mining areas. The route to the viewpoint also offers panoramic views of the Montes de León. At El Carballal del Oro, the focus is on wayfinding and understanding the surroundings. El Carballal del Oro is an activity for families; signposts and information panels make it easier to find the viewpoints and help visitors understand the surroundings. This experience combines exercise with information about what can be seen in the landscape.

Buildings and earlier settlement history

The buildings, too, offer different kinds of history. In the Church of San Esteban in Pedredo, the central nave has an apse with a barrel vault; there is also a small side chapel. The vault describes the shape of the apse’s end, while the side chapel is a distinct part of the building. The main altar houses the carved statue of Nuestra Señora de la Antigua. The church thus brings an architectural detail and a specific piece of its furnishings into view. The Chapel of San Roque was built by the villagers, is attached to the former schools and is located in the centre of Pedredo. The Castro Astur takes the story further back: the ancient settlement is dated initially to the Iron Age and was later reused as a Roman mining settlement. Unlike Los Fuellos, the Castro Astur is not a single gold mine, but a settlement initially dating to the Iron Age that was later reused as a Roman mining settlement.

For the broader travel overview: Rabanal Del Camino.