Gypsum Kiln of Espejuelos

The name «espejuelo» recalls the shine of crystallized gypsum, a mineral found among the deposits of the ancient lake landscape. To make use of it, extracting the rock was not enough: it had to be fired, left to cool and ground into powder. The information panel at this stop explains that firing could last up to a day and a half. Throughout that time, the gypsum worker continuously fed the fire with firewood.

The fired material was then taken to a threshing floor, where it was crushed or trampled, and the fragments were finally sifted to obtain a finer product. Mixed with water, this plaster could be used in local construction. Remains of traditional kilns used until the 20th century can still be found on the Barranco del Agua trail. Industrial production gradually displaced this craft.

Look at the kiln from the path and imagine the work it involved: gathering fuel, watching over the firing and then preparing the material. The landscape provided the raw material; the gypsum worker’s experience made it possible to transform it.