Salto y Central hidroeléctrica de Grandas de Salime
Hydroelectric power station on the Navia river, decorated with murals by Joaquín Vaquero Palacios; free guided visits on Thursdays that are not public holidays at 11:00, by reservation.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Salime dam and power station on the Navia river are one of the great works of hydraulic engineering in Asturias. Following an agreement of 1945 between Electra de Viesgo and Hidroeléctrica del Cantábrico to make use of the upper stretch of the river, the engineers of the latter directed a pioneering and complex project. The concrete dam, some 128 m high, and the power station were built in the first half of the 1950s, and the official inauguration took place in 1955. The reservoir flooded numerous estates, bridges, churches and cemeteries in the area.
The Asturian architect Joaquín Vaquero Palacios, together with his son Joaquín Vaquero Turcios, integrated art into the work: murals and reliefs decorate the turbine hall and other spaces, which has given the power station a reputation as an industrial “art gallery”. On one of the slopes of the dam there is also an image of the Virgen de la Luz.
The power station now belongs to Saltos del Navia C.B. and can be visited with a free guided tour, led by staff of the power station, which covers the history of the construction, the technical generation spaces and the artistic work of the Vaqueros.
Highlights
- Turbine hall and technical generation spaces
- Murals and reliefs by Joaquín Vaquero Palacios and Joaquín Vaquero Turcios
- Concrete dam some 128 m high over the Navia river
- The history of the construction of the works in the 1940s and 1950s
- Free guided visit led by the power station's staff
Permanent exhibition
- Visita guiada a la central y a su obra artística – Tour of the history of the construction, the technical generation spaces and the murals of Joaquín Vaquero Palacios and Joaquín Vaquero Turcios.
- Operated by
- Saltos del Navia C.B.
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Groups (10+ people) | –Groups of 10 to 30 people. |
|---|
The guided visit is free.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Recommended for ages 10+
Children under 10 are not admitted.
Getting there & parking
The dam and power station are on the AS-14 road, about 6 km from Grandas de Salime; the road runs along the crest of the dam.
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. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Visits are only with a guide, for groups of 10 to 30 people and with a minimum age of 10 years. Booking is preferably requested one month in advance using the form on the website (name, DNI/NIE, email, telephone, number of people and date); exceptionally it can be requested up to 7 days before if places are available. A week before, an email is sent confirming or cancelling the visit depending on the number of registrations. |
