12 QR Video English
Channel: TURISMO ALMADEN
Date: 2023-06-16

We welcome you to the Casa Academia de Minas.
In the second half of the 18th century, various circumstances arise in Spain and in the Mines of Almadén that lead to the establishment of what would become the first mining engineering school in this country and the fourth in the world. 
The first of these circumstances was the abandoned state of the mine, caused by its successive leasing and the lack of success of the State’s investments, which decreased production and increased costs.
The second, was the renewed tendencies brought about by the Age of Enlightenment in Europe that extended into Spain. In this time, mining education would have an important role, favoured by the numerous visits of foreign experts coming to counsel and implement new mining techniques that would improve the exploitation of the mines.
The Spanish Crown, aware of the mines contribution to its income, would draw up a Royal Decree on the 14th July of 1777, proposing the establishment of the first school for mining education in Spain, naming Cristobal Störr responsible for the School and director of the mines of Almadén.
After its foundation, it was deemed necessary to build a place to accommodate the students pensioned by the Royal Estate. This building was inaugurated in 1785 and is known as “La Academia”
It is a rectangular building with the façade in its longer side. In the back there is a large garden courtyard. It has two floors which overlook the street and two basements in the back, due to the unevenness of the terrain. The buildings’ main interest lies in its façade, specifically in the doorway and upper balcony, highlighted by a coat of arms. With the exception of the stone façade, the building is rendered and has padding drawings.
The first courses to be taught were subterranean geometry and Mineralogy. The education programme was similar to that of military engineers, which is why, throughout the students training, they received the rank of cadet of a regiment of the crown in Nueva España, Mexico. Its classrooms saw the likes of personalities such as Fausto d’Elhuyar, discoverer of tungsten and Andrés Manuel del Río, responsible for the finding of Vanadium.
In 1835, the Academia de Minas is moved to Madrid, where the Escuela Especial de Ingenieros de Minas is founded. This school would then lose its original function, becoming a practical mining school and converting into the country’s first Mining foremen school in 1841. On Christmas of 1973, this bicentennial Mining school would change its location to the current site of the School of Mining and Industrial Engineering (Escuela de Ingeniería Minera e Industrial).
We will now leave this place, but you can continue discovering more of Almadén’s stories by visiting the next point of interest.