La Carolina Museum

La Carolina, Museum © Michelle Chaplow
This excellent modern museum explains the history of the mining industry in the areas surrounding La Carolina and the other settlers' towns

La Carolina Musuem

The museum's full name is CENTRO DE INTERPRETACION DE LA HISTORIA DE LA MINAS EN LAS NUEVAS POBLACIONES DE JAEN.

This excellent modern museum explains the history of the mining industry in the areas surrounding La Carolina and the other settlers' towns. It charts the history from ancient times to the mining boom of the 19th century, and will be enjoyed by anyone interested in mining and industry, especially British visitors, since, as in Rio Tinto (Huelva), British engineers were involved in setting up the mines. This museum was originally called the Museo Arqueologico de La Carolina, and reopened in December 2011 as a modern interpretation centre.

Mining licences were granted after the War of Independence, but it was the Ley de Bases sobre Minas 1868 which opened the way to foreign capital investment (chiefly from England, France and Belgium). At the peak of the mining boom in 1884, 73 companies were working in 183 lead and silver mines in the district. Peak production was in 1912, with 100,000 tonnes. Overhead cable bucket-ways were constructed to carry ore from the mines to La Carolina. In 1909 a railway was constructed south to Linares. Production decreased dramatically after the outbreak of the First World War. Some mines continued to extract post-war, and the last mine closed in 1985.

Of particular interest are:

  • Collection of fossils and minerals
  • Collection of ceramics from Iberian pre-history
  • Roman objects made from lead
  • Recreation of the working face of a lead mine
  • Objects related to the Battle of Navas de Toloso
  • Documentation, plans and models relating to the Nuevos Poblaciones (new towns)
  • Objects relating to the mining industry
  • Interactive screens and two audio-visual displays entitled Arte Rupestre (cave art) in the eastern Sierra Morena and Nuevos Poblaciones (new towns)

The museum offers guided tours and has a specialist library for research; it organises cultural events, and occasional visits to the old industrial sites nearby. It has a Wifi connection and QR codes.

Location:

Plaza de la Iglesia s/n
La Carolina, Jaen.
Tel: 953 66 20 18

Opening Hours:

Tuesday to Friday 11.00 to 13.00 and 18.00 to 21.00
Saturday 10.00 to 14.00 and 18.00 21.00
Sunday and Holiday 10.00 to 14.00

Entrance:

General: 2€; under 16yrs 1€; over 65yrs 0.50€
Guided: visit 3€; under 16yrs 1.50€; over 65yrs 1€

Facebook page is called Museo de la Carolina

There is an Associacion Cultural Minero Carolinense

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