Tour: Alto do Xéu / Barragem Mine – Historic Mining Trail

Discover one of the most striking sections of Ouro Preto’s mining heritage. The route leading to Alto do Xéu and the Mina da Barragem geosite is a short, accessible walk that is exceptionally rich in history. The trail begins at Mina Du Veloso and follows ancient mining paths to well-preserved structures of the Xéu 1 and Xéu 2 aqueducts, which once carried vast volumes of water used for gold extraction in the 18th century.

Upon reaching Mina da Barragem, visitors encounter water storage reservoirs, mining platforms, and a well-maintained trail that allows a close look at the engineering techniques of the time. From this point, there is also an impressive view of the hydraulic mining area—an enormous open-cut excavation that carved through the mountainside during mining operations.

The transformation of the landscape is clearly visible, making it easy to imagine the power of the water that once moved tons of gold-bearing material.

The full route forms a circuit of approximately 3.3 km, with an average duration of about 3 hours, ideal for those seeking a historical, archaeological, and contemplative experience without significant physical difficulty.