MINA DO LOUSAL

Pyrite is an iron sulfide used in the manufacture of sulfuric acid. Located 50 km from the coast, the pyrite mine in the village of Lousal was in operation between 1900 and 1988, a prosperous period for the town. Following the mine's closure, and in order to exploit the immense museological and tourist potential of the mining basin, the site was transformed into a full-scale cultural space, with several centers of interest:

The Mine Museum. Housed in the former power station, the Musée de la Mine houses a large collection of documents and objects, as well as equipment recounting daily life on the site. You can also visit some of the operating areas, as well as the power station's engines and machinery.

Ciência Viva Center. Created in 2010, this is a place for scientific innovation, with exhibition rooms, a 3D equipment room, an interactive room, a cybercafé and an observation post. Numerous activities for children and temporary exhibitions.

The Waldemar Gallery. The Waldemar Gallery is a kind of memory of the generations of miners who explored the underground for almost a century. It's a journey to the heart of the mine. You can visit the first gallery to be dug and mined, and admire the minerals on the mine walls. However, this gallery can only be visited at certain times of the day (ask at the Ciência Viva reception desk).