De les Creus a les mines path. Route 3 Setcases

This walk offers the chance to discover a little-known mining heritage site while enjoying fine views over the valley and an interesting reminder of the industrial activity that shaped these mountains at the end of the 19th century.

Mining activity at the mines of la Crestella dates back to the end of the 19th century, around 1890. The main mineral extracted here was arsenopyrite, from which arsenic was obtained. At the time, arsenic was widely used as an insecticide, herbicide and wood preservative.

The extracted ore was loaded into small mine carts and transported down to the road by means of an aerial cableway almost 1,300 metres long, an impressive infrastructure that helped overcome the steep mountain terrain.

This is an out-and-back route. We start on carrer de la Font, at the Itinerànnia junction R103, following the route signs. After a short distance, we reach the camí de les Creus, where we find junction S3. Our route continues to the left; to the right, hikers can follow the camí de la Fageda i les Cabanes route.

The camí de les Creus takes its name from the route followed by the Holy Week procession in the past. Throughout the itinerary, we follow the yellow paint marks that guide us to the mines.

We steadily gain elevation along a wide, well-defined path until reaching the cabana del Roc d'Esquer, also known as the cabana d'en Ras, located beside a spring.

We then continue along a zigzagging trail that gradually climbs the slope. Further on, we reach a rocky section where we leave the main track and follow a secondary path. From here, the route becomes more level and leads us without difficulty to the remains of the Miners’ House, now in ruins.

After crossing the torrent dels Pins, we finally arrive at the site of the former mines of la Crestella. Here we can still see the spoil heaps, large accumulations of rock and waste material generated during mining operations, which help identify the extraction areas. We can also observe a stone wall that formed part of the upper station of the aerial cableway, where the ore was loaded before being transported down the valley.

The return journey follows the same route back to the starting point.