EVENT: Weekend at the Lousal Mining Complex, Beja, and Descent to the Aljustrel Mine

DATE OF REALISATION: 21 to 22 March 2026

ENROLMENT DEADLINE : 21 February 2026

EVENT DESCRIPTION: “Weekend at the Lousal Mining Complex, Beja, and Descent to the Aljustrel Mine”

In this activity proposal, we'll go on two walks, one to discover the surroundings of the Lousal Mining Complex and the other in the mining town of Aljustrel. In between, there will be time for a visit to the Roman village of Pisões and a stroll through the historic centre of Beja. On Sunday, after breakfast and a walk through the town of Aljustrel, we'll take a guided tour of the Mining Park, including a descent into the Mining Gallery on Floor 30. It's a weekend full of interesting things to do, where we can also try some of Alentejo's fine gastronomy. Come with us and you won't regret it! Places are limited!

Lousal Village and Mining Complex

The Lousal Mine and its mining village are part of an old mining area located in the parishes of Azinheira dos Barros and São Mamede do Sádão. It was exploited in two phases, first in the 19th century and then from 1900 to 1988, and was part of the Belgian group “SAPEC” for most of its production. The main product was pyrite, from which sulphur was extracted, used in the production of sulphuric acid, which in turn was a component in the manufacture of fertilisers. The closure of the mines caused serious economic problems in the village of Lousal, where the workers and their families lived, which is why the Grândola municipality and SAPEC began a programme to rehabilitate the old mining structures.

Mining Museum

This museum, located in the old power station building, aims to recreate the atmosphere of the Lousal mines and is an integral part of the Frédéric Velge Foundation. Copper pyrites were extracted from these mines between 1900 and 1988. Today it is possible to visit the facilities, excavations and galleries of the mine, as well as the engines of the power station that supplied not only the mine, but also the local population.

Aljustrel Mining Park

The Aljustrel Mining Park is a living space where stories are told using innovation. A museum space without conventional walls, where you can learn, feel and reflect. One of the highlights of the project is the immersive tunnel, designed to evoke the daily life of miners. The lanterns project shadows and lights that accompany the chants of labour and the invocation to Santa Barbara, patron saint of miners. In this atmosphere, the hymn echoes as a tribute to the courage and resilience of those who, for generations, have lived from the depths of the earth. One of the most memorable experiences of the entire guided tour is the descent into one of the Mine's tunnels.

Roman Village of Pisões

The villa of Pisões, occupied in the Roman period between the 1st and 4th centuries AD, has only been partially excavated, comprising a significant part of the pars urbana (part of the villa that served as a residence for its owners), with more than forty rooms arranged around an uncovered central courtyard, called the peristyle. The façade, which would have been porticoed, would have faced south, opening onto a large tank that is still well preserved today. The mosaics of the Roman villa of Pisões are its most richly decorated. You can admire an appreciable diversity of panels from different periods of Roman history, highlighting various decorative and iconographic styles. Also noteworthy are the spa building, with its well-defined floor plan and well-preserved hypocaust, and the wall of a Roman dam, located around 200 metres from the villa, which would have served as a water reservoir to supply the farm and domestic life.

These are some of the most important places we'll be visiting during this event: 

• Lousal Mining Village and Mining Complex
• Lousal Ciência Viva Centre
• Mining Museum
• Visit to the Roman Villa of Pisões
• Stroll through the historic centre of Beja
• Tour of the town of Ajustrel
• Maralhas Mill
• Chapel of Our Lady of the Castle
• Nossa Senhora do Castelo Viewpoint and Swing
• 25 April Garden
• Visit to the Aljustrel Mining Park with a descent to the Mining Gallery on Level 30 - “Aljustrel Has a Mine” route; Iron Hat Walkways; Compressor Plant; Viana Well and Vipasca Malacates.
• Natural landscapes

TIME: Departure from Lisbon at 7am
RETURN: Arrival in Lisbon at 7.30pm

Saturday 21st March

Walking: “Lousal a Céu Aberto - Mining Trail”

Points of interest: Walkways, Lagoons, Corona Stream, Malacate, Workshops and Warehouses, Power Station, Old Railway and Natural Landscapes

The “Lousal a Céu Aberto” (Lousal in the Open) route consists of a walking tour of the old Lousal mine shaft, which once produced pyrite, a sulphide rich in sulphur, essential for the production of sulphuric acid and used in the manufacture of fertilisers. At the beginning and end of the circuit, various infrastructures that characterise industrial mining archaeology are shown. Along the way, visitors come into contact with different geological structures (outcrops, faults and folds) as well as acid water lagoons (“green lagoon” and “red lagoon”, the latter of which has a submerged spring). The cementation tanks (former copper extraction structures) are worth noting, and at the end of the circuit we walk along the “pyrites road”, which used to distribute the ore to the railway line. Other infrastructures such as the administrative, social and housing buildings are also covered.

Level of difficulty of the route: 1 (Scale of 1 to 5)

Route length: 8 kilometres

Estimated time: 2h00

11h00 - Visit to the Mining Museum and Ciência Viva Centre

12h45 - We suggest the picnic option, which is the responsibility of each participant.

14h30 - Visit to the Ruins of the Roman Villa of Pisões

16h00 - Tour of Beja - including historic centre

17h15 - Check-in at the hotel in Beja

19h45 - Suggested Group Dinner

22nd March (Sunday)

Walking: “Aljustrel semi-urban tour”

Points of interest: Vila de Aljustrel, Ermida de Nossa Senhora do Castelo, Swing and Viewpoint, Moinho do Maralhas, Jardim 25 de Abril, etc.

This walk will take us to get to know the town of Aljustrel a little better, its mining area, and a number of heritage sites, including the Chapel of Our Lady of the Castle, the Maralhas Mill, among others.

Level of difficulty of the route: 2 (Scale of 1 to 5)

Route length: 7 kilometres

Estimated time: 2 hours

13h00 - We suggest the picnic or lunch option in Aljustrel

14h30 - Guided tour of the Aljustrel Mining Park

17.30 - End of activity and return to Lisbon

Equipment: Suitable footwear and clothing for hiking/walking

Registration fee:

Price includes:

- Transport by coach/bus/tourist van from Lisbon to each of the places described above
- 2 Walks and the route described above
- Visit to the Mining Museum and Ciência Viva Centre in Lousal
- Visit to the Ruins of the Roman Villa of Pisões
- Guided tour of the Aljustrel Mining Park with descent to the Mining Gallery on Level 30
- Accommodation in a 3-star hotel, breakfast included
- The proposed accommodation option includes various room types
- Guided Walks
- Compulsory insurance

Prices with transport

Price in double room: 205€
Price in single room: 240€

Values without transport

Price in double room: 155€
Price in single room: 190€

Seat reservation fee: 50€

THE POSSIBILITY OF CAR-POOLING AMONG PARTICIPANTS IF THEY WISH, FOR THOSE WHO DON'T WANT TO USE OUR TRANSPORT AND DON'T MIND SHARING OR HITCHHIKING WITH OTHER PARTICIPANTS.

Prices valid until 15th February. From this date onwards the prices are 225€ and 260€ respectively (option with transport).

Notes: 

a) Registrations are limited and accommodation options are limited to availability at the time of booking.

b) If you have a group interested in this trip, contact us, we have personalised solutions.