The Lousal Ciência Viva Science Centre Association (ACCVL) oversees three cultural, historical, and scientific institutions located in the former mining village of Lousal, Portugal.
Established in 2010, the ACCVL collaborates with several partners, including the Municipality of Grândola and Ciência Viva – the National Agency for Scientific and Technological Culture.
It includes:
- Lousal Ciência Viva Science Centre – Dedicated to the georesources and their intersections with various scientific disciplines, offering hands-on exhibitions and interactive experiments.
- Lousal Mining Museum – Situated in the former power station, it presents a rich collection of artefacts and mining equipment reflecting 88 years of industrial activity.
- Waldemar Mining Gallery – An underground mining gallery with 280-metres in length and around 20 metres in depth showcasing the mine’s geological features and infrastructure.
Mining Museum
The Mining Museum houses a significant collection of documents, artefacts, and equipment, offering insight into daily life during the mine’s most prosperous years. Visitors can explore areas once used for electricity generation, compressed air systems, and a unique exhibition of nineteenth-century model mines, crafted in Germany.
Lousal Ciência Viva Centre
Set within historic buildings formerly associated with the mine – including the time clock station, geology office, workshops, and miners’ bathhouse – the Science Centre features a variety of interactive exhibits and thematic spaces such as No Earth, No Beetles, Home sapiens, Shower of Science, and Hey, Kids! This Mine is For You. These exhibitions adopt a multidisciplinary approach to science and technology communication, promoting non-formal education through engaging and accessible content.
The Lousal mine was operational from 1900 to 1988, mainly extracting pyrite for the production of sulphuric acid. Following its closure, the RELOUSAL project – a collaboration between SAPEC and the Municipality of Grândola – initiated the revitalisation of the village. Over two decades, abandoned buildings were transformed into a hotel, restaurant, museum, and a Science Centre, breathing new life into the community.
Waldemar Mining Gallery
One of the highlights is a visit to the mine’s first gallery – a horizontal tunnel approximately 300 metres in length and around 20 metres in depth, once used for storing explosives. During the tour, visitors are introduced to key aspects of mining and the historical exploitation of pyrite.
Life Ribermine Project
The site features a pioneering pilot installation – the first of its kind in Europe – focused on geomorphological, geochemical, and ecological restoration. This innovative project aims to recover fluvial freshwater habitats through geomorphic-based mine rehabilitation, promoting the reclamation of degraded landscapes for the benefit of both nature and society.
08:30 - Departure from Lagoas Park Hotel
10:20 - Arrival to the Centro Ciência Viva do Lousal
10:30 - WALDEMAR GALLERY
Visit to the first gallery of the Lousal Mine, a horizontal gallery with about 300 meters of extension, that came to be used for storing explosives. During the visit some aspects related to mining and exploration of pyrite are explained.
12:00 - LIFE RIBERMINE PROJECT
Fluvial freshwater habitat recovery through geomorphic based mine ecological restoration in Iberian Peninsula. Introduction to the pilot installation (the first in Europe) for geomorphological, geochemical and ecological restoration to enable land reclamation for the benefit of nature and society.
Project website https://liferibermine.com/
13:30 - LUNCH
Armazém Central Restaurant
Not suitable for vegan or coeliac dietary requirements. A choice of vegetarian dishes.
14:30 - MINING MUSEUM
The museum houses a significant documentary collection, objects and equipment that allow the visitor a glimpse into the daily life of the mine’s years of prosperity. The visit comprises the spaces of electricity production units, compressed air and an exhibition of nineteenth century model mines, whose manufacture dates back to the 19th century in Germany.
15:30 - LOUSAL CIÊNCIA VIVA CENTER
Located in old buildings associated with the Lousal Mine (point house, geology office, workshops, miners’ bathhouse, etc.), it comprises several interactive and exhibition spaces (The Virtual CAVE, No Earth, no Beetles, Home sapiens, Shower of Science, Hey, Kids! This Mine is For You), which deal with contents of a multidisciplinary nature, in a perspective of scientific and technological dissemination, linked to non-formal education.
