The weather today
T. minimum: 10ºC T. maximum: 16ºC
Snow level 2400mm
This route is part of the Iron Route of the Pyrenees, awarded by the Council of Europe.
The Iron Route invites you to discover the resources involved in the process of mining, transforming and commercialising iron.
The points of interest spread throughout the region enable you to discover one of the most important economic activities carried out in Andorra from the early 17th to the late 19th century. Some examples include the mines, the mining and iron-working settlements and the forges.
We recommend starting the route from the Llorts mine, which, together with the Sedornet and Ransol mines, fed the forges in Ordino.
Along this road you can see the symbiosis of the surroundings with the towns in the Ordino valley: cultivated terraces, fields, shepherd’s huts and the interpretation of the cultural landscape converge at points of natural interest that allow you to delve into the history of the valley. You can see the resources related to traditional activities in which water and wood play a major role, complemented with the explanation of the elements related to the flora, geomorphology and minerals, among others.
The Iron man route, as its name tells us, is part of the ancient road used by the carters to transport iron from the mine at Llorts to the forges.
The muleteers’ way also offers a sculptural itinerary that pays tribute to this iron route and to all those who worked in this industry. It is an open-air exhibition in which 6 sculptures by artists from around the word stand in harmony with nature. The sculptors are: Rachid Khimoune, Mark Brusse, Jordi Casamajor, Alberto Carneiro, Guy de Rougemont and Satoru Sato.
In addition, we invite you to taste the water of the iron spring that you will find along the way and if you try it, you will notice the taste and smell of iron as well as learn more about the history of Andorra, visiting the iron mine and the Rossell forge, or the manufactured products of the Andorran smithies, such as the grilles on the high altar and the side chapel that can be seen in the church of Sant Martí de la Cortinada.
