Path: Introduction - Visit the mills; catalogue - Espés bajo
Mills in Alto Aragón - harinero, central eléctrica

Espés bajo

Espés bajo nowadays is easily reached from the main road between Castejón de Sos and Pont de Suert. Coming from Castejón you'll first have to negotiate the Collado de Fades (almost 1500 m) and then look out for the branch towards Abella and Espés. Do not enter the village of Espés bajo, but instead take the road down into the valley. At some point the GR crosses the road. Follow this markings to the west and you will soon arrive at the mill. In the likely case that you miss the GR drive the narrow road down to the river crossing. You can now walk along the river against the current and will soon find the mill. The mill taps water from the Barranco de Espés.

Pictures: 16.viii.2007, 29.vii.2020

waterworks harinero central eléctrica

(1) Espés bajo — arrow indicates approximate location of the mill in the valley.

 

(2) Mill seen from the South, the Barranco de Espés.

The dam is quite easily found. Walk to the back of the mill (5) to meet the GR hiking track (4) and from there follow the path to the West. When you reach the river walk against the current and you'll soon find the dam (3) which is rather humble and hidden below the shrub. It is a pleasant walk and the landscape is so inviting that you probably will want to explore more of the surroundings.
From the dam a shallow channel runs towards the mill. Only the first stretch still carries water and feeds a lush vegetation. The remaining part is dry. Arriving at the mill, the canal takes a turn, dives below the path (4) and then opens into the mill pond (5 right). The pond is rather large, but having enough water may still have been a problem.

(3) The dam (azud) where the water is captured.

(4) The canal crosses the path (also GR) before flowing into the mill pond.

(5) Upper floor of the mill with its own entrance at the back; mill pond with grate at right.

(6) Detail of the grate protecting the pressure pit.
(7) Deep and wide pressure pit (cubo).

That is because both a grain mill and a power­station needed the precious fluid. A second factor is the type of turbine: a Francis turbine with a double discharge tube is more powerful, but also needs more water. And finally the Barranco de Espés is only a small rivulet.
The embalse (mill pond) lies even with the top floor of the mill (5). A large grating (5 center, 6) was put in place to stop objects from entering the wide and deep pressure pit (7). Bats live in the pressure pit.

(8) Cárcavo.
(9) Discharge pipes of the turbine.
(10) Start of drain below pasture.

The cárcavo (8) is situated between both sections (grain and power) of the mill. It is narrow and very deep. When you climb down you'll discover both drainpipes (9) of the Francis turbine.
After the good work, the water is led back to the river by means of a tunnel below the pastures. The start of this tunnel can be seen from inside the cárcavo (10).

 

waterworks harinero central eléctrica

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