Ponferrada's 6th-century artifact — Compludo

By the banks of the Meruelo River in Ponferrada, Spain, lies the 1968 Monumento Nacional - the Herrería de Compludo, guarding a 6th-century Catalan trompage and mazo, chained to the town's sacred history and the whispers of Saint Fructuoso. Step inside for a peek at medieval smithing methods.

Stepping into the venerable Herrería de Compludo, a Monumento Nacional, transports you to the hallowed medieval era. Here, remarkably, a 6th-century Catalan trompage and mazo - powered by tidal forces - remains. The enigma of the forge lies in its connection with the neighboring monasteries from a bygone age, most notably Saint Fructuoso's monastery that was founded in the 6th century. To this day, the Herrería de Compludo is still diligently maintained by a succession of blacksmiths. Snuggled in the Tebaida Leonesa region and where the Meruelo River's two tributaries converge, it's a stone's throw away from Compludo.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons

Ponferrada's 6th-century artifact: The well-kept secret of the hydraulic

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