Mines de Liat
Mines de Liat is an abandoned mine located in the Val de Toran, in Val d'Aran, a valley in the Pyrenees mountains in the northwestern part of the province of Lleida, in Catalonia, northern Spain.
The road to the mine is gravel, narrow and very steep, in bad conditions. It’s an old mine road known as Camin de Liat. It’s one of the highest roads of the country, climbing up to 2.324m (7,624ft) above the sea level. 4x4 vehicle required.
The abandoned mine is located on the way from Estanh de Pica Palomèra, an alpine lake and the town of Bagergue. The mine ceased its activities in 1956. High risk of rockfalls and avalanches. The journey offers an exhilarating driving experience, with superb views of the Pyrenees mountain range. Adverse weather conditions can prompt closure of the road. It’s impassable often in winters. This road has innumerable twists and turns. This route is not recommended if your passengers are prone to car sickness. Don’t stuff your belly too much. Eventually, you might feel vomiting temptations. This is definitely not a Sunday drive. Drive with care as this is a mountain road with dangerous dropoffs (500 meters) caused by avalanches.
Pic: Roc Garcia-Elias