Conjunto Etnográfico de Mazonovo
Water-powered ironworks from the 18th century in Santa Eulalia de Oscos, still in operation, with guided visits and a demonstration of the mazo.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Mazonovo ethnographic complex is in the village of Mazonovo, in Santa Eulalia de Oscos, about 3 km from the municipal capital. It is a water-powered forge hammer (mazo) with an 18th-century forge workshop, which has survived to the present day in excellent condition.
The stone building, with a roof of slate slabs, is organised around two spaces with water-powered machinery: the mazo, whose hammer weighs 114 kg, and the barquines or large bellows. The complex is completed by a dam on the river, a canal of about 350 metres and the banzao, a stone pond for storing water. The water wheel is made of oak and measures 2.30 metres in diameter; the air trompe, also made of wood, is one of the most curious pieces.
With industrialisation at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries, rural forges were abandoned. Mazonovo survived and is today one of the few water-powered forge hammers still in operation. In 2006 a blacksmith of Austrian origin took charge of its upkeep and of opening it to the public, and today a small group of blacksmiths works there, forging commissions and also guiding visits.
Highlights
- 18th-century water-powered forge hammer still in operation
- Demonstration of the 114 kg hammer
- Dam, canal and banzao preserved
- Possibility of forging a nail at the end of the visit
- Visits always guided by one of the blacksmiths
Permanent exhibition
- Mazo hidráulico y ferrería de Mazonovo – Guided tour of the 18th-century ironworks, with its dam, canal, water wheel and hammer, and a demonstration of the mazo in operation.
- Operated by
- Ferreiros de Mazonovo
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | €2.50Children aged 6 to 12. |
| Groups | €3.50 per personGroups of more than 20 people. |
| Forging a nail (supplement at the end of the visit) | €3 |
General admission €5; the supplement for forging a nail is €3.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
- Hands-on stations
At the end of the visit a nail can be forged (for a supplement).
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
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Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The visit is always guided by one of the blacksmiths and includes a demonstration of the water-powered hammer at the end of the route, which is very noisy; visitors who bring dogs are warned of this so they can decide whether to enter. The mazo also works as a workshop, and the group offers forging courses. |
