Samuño Ecomuseum mining train in Langreo reaches 350,000 visitors: "Tourists take a piece of the mine"

The Ecomuseo Minero Valle de Samuño in Langreo has surpassed 350,000 visits since its opening in 2013, with more than 20,000 already this year.

The Pozo San Luis, which operated from 1930 to 2001, reaches a depth of 432 metres and is divided into six levels — a testament to the mining history that shaped the Nalón valley.

According to the museum's guides, this summer has seen a notable increase in foreign visitors, drawn to an experience that preserves a living tradition.

All visitors agree on one thing: the yellow train that takes you into the mine is what most captures the imagination, making you feel part of the mining experience. It is no accident that the Ecomuseo Minero Valle de Samuño has achieved such success. In the words of Carlos Llamedo, one of the museum's guides, "what we see, in addition to national tourists, are European tourists. They have a different conception of industrial heritage and it is more normalised for them, so they are very interested."

Carlos Llamedo, guide at the Ecomuseo:What we see, in addition to national tourists, are European tourists. They have a different conception of industrial heritage and it is more normalised for them, so they are very interested.

The museum offers a journey into the depths of mining history. Lara Fernández, another guide, explained in the underground gallery that in the mining era there was no electricity, and the floors would have been covered with stones. The communication system with the extraction machinist outside was operated through a bell-tolling system. For many visitors, this is a revelation. Mayte Deltell, a visitor from Alicante, said they came on holiday to Oviedo and wanted to visit a real mine. Zaida del Amo, from Valencia, echoed this sentiment: "we came because we had never been to a mine and we wanted to see what it was like." Javier Andrés, from Valladolid, chose the visit for his birthday, wanting a different family activity. Clara Hernando, an Asturian resident originally from Ciudad Real, noted the importance of learning about mining, especially for young people.

Gerardo Suárez, train machinist at the Ecomuseo:What we try to do is inculcate what we have lived since childhood, so that this mining tradition is not lost and that people leave here knowing what mining is.

My great-great-grandfather, Dimas Fernández, was one of the first lamp men at the Pozo San Luis. Almost all my family worked in this mine. This fills me — that people can leave with a piece of the mine and of Langreo.

The main function of the Samuño Ecomuseum is undoubtedly to remember and teach those past times that laid the foundations of the history and economy of the Nalón valley. The museum is located in Langreo, a municipality that, as previously explored in the story of David Villa, is deeply connected to the industrial history of Asturias. The Pozo San Luis was in operation for 71 years, from 1930 to 2001, and its preservation allows visitors to understand not only the technical aspects of mining but also the human dimension — the lives of the miners, their families and the communities that were built around the industry.

This growing interest in the industrial heritage of Langreo and the Nalón valley reflects a broader appreciation of Asturias' cultural diversity. InasTour, acting exclusively as a buyer's agent, assists international clients in identifying properties in areas that combine cultural depth with quality of life — from homes near Langreo to properties in other inland valleys and coastal locations — where the region's industrial past and green present converge.

The success of the Samuño Ecomuseum is not only a tourism statistic. It reflects a growing recognition of industrial heritage as a cultural asset, both by visitors from abroad and by those who wish to understand the history of Asturias beyond its coastline. The museum's yellow train, the voice of the guides, the stories of the miners — these are the elements that make the experience memorable. For international buyers, the presence of such heritage adds depth to the region's appeal: Asturias is not only a place of natural beauty but of history, memory and authenticity.