Museo del Oro de Asturias (MOA)
Museum in Navelgas dedicated to gold, its history and local gold mining, with a gold-panning workshop and the La Huella del Oro route.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Museo del Oro de Asturias opened in 2006 in Navelgas, in the municipality of Tineo, an area where gold has been mined since Roman times. It occupies the Capalleja house, a manor house in the village, and its rooms bring together the history of gold, its value and its relationship with people.
The visit begins with gold as a mineral: its properties, how it occurs in nature and world production. It then looks at its role as wealth, symbol and ornament in different civilisations, with a chronological route from the Neolithic to the present day that includes gold rushes such as the one in California. Another part focuses on the gold of Navelgas, its importance for local people and the extraction methods, from Roman techniques to today's gold panning (bateo), with replicas of Roman tools in the central area of the building.
Gold panning receives special attention because it is still practised as a sport with championships. The museum runs a workshop to learn this ancestral technique and offers the La Huella del Oro route, a 1.5 km walk through former mining sites, and a tour of the village of Navelgas.
Highlights
- History of gold as a mineral, as wealth and as a symbol, from the Neolithic
- Gold mining in Navelgas since Roman times
- Replicas of Roman tools
- Gold-panning workshop (March to December)
- La Huella del Oro route, 1.5 km, and tour of Navelgas
Permanent exhibition
- Exposición permanente del Museo del Oro – Gold as a mineral and as wealth throughout history, gold mining in Navelgas since Roman times, and gold panning.
- Founded
- 2006
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €2.50 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €1.50Children aged 3 to 11, people over 65, groups of more than 15 people and travel agencies |
| Children & teens | €1.50free up to age 3 · Children over 3 and under 12; free up to age 3. |
| Seniors | €1.50People over 65. |
| Groups (16+ people) | €1.50 per personGroups of more than 15 people, travel agencies and tour operators. |
| Gold-panning workshop | €5By booking; season March to December. |
Free admission: Every Wednesday, 18 May (International Museum Day) and 21 July (anniversary of the MOA).
Guided visits to the museum, to Navelgas and to the La Huella del Oro route are free, but they are not offered in high season.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 30 min |
|---|---|
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 3 |
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
The QUIZZ MOA is a question game through the rooms which, when completed, earns the Experto en el MOA diploma. School groups can book a guided visit.
Getting there & parking
Navelgas is about 100 km from Oviedo. By the inland route: from Oviedo, Gijón or Avilés towards La Espina and Tineo on the AS-216, turn off to Bárcena del Monasterio (AS-217) and take the AS-219 to Navelgas. By the coast: via Luarca, taking the AS-219 towards Pola de Allande.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 45 min |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The self-guided visit lasts about 30 minutes, and there are two guided visits a day. Guided visits must be booked in advance, need a minimum of 10 people (groups of 10 to 30 adults) and are not offered in high season. The guided visit to the museum lasts 45 minutes; the visit to the La Huella del Oro route or to Navelgas takes one hour. |
