Date Published: 01/07/2020
ARCHIVED - EU funds to restore two more snow wells in the Sierra Espuña
ARCHIVED ARTICLE The “pozos de nieve” supplied ice to the cities and towns of the region prior to the invention of the fridge!
As the region swelters in 35 degree heat we take it for granted that the freezer is bulging with cooling ice lollies and ice cream and there’s always a refreshing drink in the fridge, but before the invention of fridges and freezers ice was a luxury which could only be afforded by the wealthy and represented an important industry in the Sierra Espuña.
Although snow is rarely seen in the Murcia Region nowadays, it was formerly normal for large volumes of snow to fall in the higher areas of the Murcia region and in the Sierra Espuña “pozos de nieve” or snow wells were built, into which snow was packed and compacted to make blocks of ice.
The ice thus generated was carried down by horse and cart into the towns and cities and sold during the warmer months, providing important income for families living in the higher areas of the region.
Several wells have been restored and can be visited today (click
for info about visiting the restored snow wells) but most of them have fallen into a ruinous state despite being of great historical and ethnographical interest. The bulk of the wells are close together in a complex of 28 wells, together with 12 attached buildings (hermitage and houses), two water sources, two roads which form part of the network of natural trails (PR-MU-57 and PR-MU-63) and a livestock route (with a trough and livestock resting place).
It is probably the largest group of wells in the entire Mediterranean context, which gives us an idea of the scale of the intense economic activity that took place in this region between the 16th and 19th centuries.
The regional government of Murcia has drawn up a Master Plan for the protection and rehabilitation of the snow wells and has now started the procedures to award the contract for restoring two of them, wells 11 and 13.
The works are part of a project financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund to the tune of 375,000 euros and will be undertaken gradually.
This part of the works will focus on conserving the two wells which have been identified as being at the greatest risk of collapse, using traditional construction techniques to protect against the risk of humans or animals falling into the open pits and works of integral restoration, following original techniques, to show in a more reliable way how they were originally built and used.
The Sierra Espuña is a cool, forested area, ideal for walking and enjoying the great outdoors even in the summer heat. There are plenty of walking routes, picnic areas and activity sports on offer including quad biking and lazer clay pigeon shooting.
There are plenty of places to go, accessed either through Totana, Alhama de Murcia or from Mula and full information can be found in this section: Click
Sierra Espuña.
Personally we find a walk in the forests is served up nicely with a bargain set lunch at the
Mariposa Hotel, just 10 euros for four courses!
To book info@espuna-adventure.com or Tel 968631008