{"id":12961,"date":"2026-10-30T09:38:08","date_gmt":"2026-10-30T09:38:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.totiaranalquilerbaqueira.com\/blog\/minas-victoria\/"},"modified":"2026-10-30T09:42:26","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T09:42:26","slug":"minas-victoria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.totiaranalquilerbaqueira.com\/en\/blog\/minas-victoria\/","title":{"rendered":"Exploring the Pyrenees: the Victoria Mines"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Visiting the Aran Valley means discovering incredible mountains, top-class ski slopes, traditional villages with outstanding cuisine, and also small hidden spots\u2014less well known, yet an important part of local life. One of these places is the Victoria Mines in the Aran Valley, in the Arres area, although today only the remains of what was once a highly significant industrial activity are still preserved.<\/p>\n\n

Visiting old mines is not something visitors to the Pyrenees usually do, but it is a very appealing option for learning more about the region\u2019s history and about mining. It is also something that tends to delight younger visitors, and a plan that combines learning and hiking, allowing you to connect with nature.<\/p>\n\n

In this article, discover everything you want to know about the Victoria Mines in the Pyrenees.<\/p>\n\n

History and origins of the Victoria Mines<\/h2>\n\n

In the Aran Valley, zinc mining was a very important industrial activity in the early 20th century. In the Arres and Boss\u00f2st area, this importance was even more evident, and the Victoria Mines were a key site for local residents. Nearly 150 people worked here\u2014an impressive figure for a sparsely populated area. The beginning of the end of mining at the Victoria Mines dates back to the Spanish Civil War in 1936, which forced work to stop. Operations resumed in 1949, but in 1953 the mine closed permanently due to the fall in zinc prices and the limited workforce available.<\/p>\n\n

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In 2024, the Victoria Mines in the Aran Valley have been restored and opened as an informative and educational site. The organised visit begins with a short hiking route around the entire mining complex, allowing you to appreciate the surrounding nature, and visitors receive highly engaging explanations of how the site operated.<\/p>\n\n

How to get to the Victoria Mines from Boss\u00f2st<\/h2>\n\n

To reach the Victoria Mines, your best option is to head to Boss\u00f2st, a village with plenty to see and do in the Aran Valley<\/a>. From there, you have two options: drive to Bassa d\u2019Arres and, from there, start the short circular loop that will take you to the mines; or begin your route in Arres de Sus, whose itinerary passes through Bassa d\u2019Arres and is therefore considerably longer and more demanding, but allows you to enjoy much more of the Aran Valley\u2019s natural surroundings. There is an even more extensive alternative, which takes significantly longer and requires a bit more preparation: a route that starts in Boss\u00f2st and links several key mining districts in the region.<\/p>\n\n