The Associação Centro Ciência Viva do Lousal (ACCVL) runs three cultural, historical, and scientific centers in the former mining village of Lousal, Portugal.
Founded in 2010, the ACCVL partners with various organizations including the Municipality of Grândola and the Ciência Viva – National Agency for Scientific and Technological Culture.
Its centers are:
- Lousal Ciência Viva Science Centre: Focuses on georesources and their connection to various scientific fields through interactive exhibits and experiments.
- Lousal Mining Museum: Housed in the former power plant, it showcases objects and equipment from the mine’s 88-year history.
- Waldemar Mining Gallery: A 280m underground tour highlighting the mine’s infrastructure and geology.
The Lousal mine operated from 1900 to 1988, primarily extracting pyrite for sulfuric acid production. After closure, the RELOUSAL project, a partnership between SAPEC and the municipality, revitalized the village. Over 20 years, abandoned buildings were transformed into a hotel, restaurant, a museum, and the Science Centre.
08:00 - Departure from Lagoas Park Hotel
09:45 - Arrival to the Centro Ciência Viva do Lousal
10:00 - 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.
11:00 - 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.
12:00 - 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.
13:30 - Lunch
Armazém Central Restaurant
Not suitable for vegan or coeliac dietary requirements. A choice of vegetarian dishes.
14:30 - 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/
