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The Mina of Daroca

Daroca, Campo de Daroca, Zaragoza

1 Villages · 2 Monuments · 3 Activities · 6 Historical milestones · 2 Food and drink

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The Mina of Daroca

Historical milestone · Daroca, Campo de Daroca, Zaragoza

Between 1555 and 1560 a tunnel about six hundred metres long was drilled beneath the Monte de San Jorge to divert the floods that devastated the city. The work was directed by the French architect Pierres Vedel, and the crews met on 7 September 1560. The Calle Mayor of Daroca occupied a natural ravine that filled during heavy rains, and the tunnel was meant to divert those waters directly toward the río Jiloca. It is 780 varas long, about 650 metres, with a cross-section of 8 varas in both width and height, about 6.7 metres. It is considered the oldest surviving modern tunnel built for hydraulic use in Europe, and it was declared a Bien de Interés Cultural (Spain's highest level of heritage protection) in 2002.

1555-1560

Photo: Musgosos (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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