The Altos Hornos de Beteta and the Cueva del Hierro iron mine represent an important chapter in the industrial history of the Serranía de Cuenca. During the 20th century, the depletion of the nearby deposits led to the incorporation, in 1957, of the company Santa Ana de Cuenca, based in Beteta. Its objective was to process the iron extracted from Cueva del Hierro through the construction of a blast furnace. This mine, active since Roman times, supplied high quality siderite which, through the use of charcoal in the smelting process, produced iron free of impurities such as phosphorus and sulfur, a material highly prized for its purity and strength.
Although promising, the project faced major technical and logistical challenges. Transporting the ore from the mine to the furnace, despite the proximity, was difficult, and large-scale production, which reached up to 15 tons of ingot per day, required a robust infrastructure that Beteta’s furnaces were unable to fully consolidate. In addition, the ingot produced, although of excellent quality, had marketing difficulties due to the high costs associated with charcoal consumption, which made the product less competitive with iron from other regions.
After several attempts at adaptation and some successful commercial operations, the complex ceased operations in 1961. Despite its short life, this project left an imprint on Beteta’s economy and heritage, and today remains a symbol of the dedication and effort of its inhabitants to promote industrial development.
From that historical episode, the neighborhood of Los Hornos, located at the exit of Beteta in the direction of El Tobar, is still preserved. In this place were built the houses for the workers, as well as the furnace itself, which still remains standing. Today, the old kiln is an excellent viewpoint overlooking El Ojuelo -a small natural lagoon- and the fertile lowlands of the Masegar River. The choice of this location was not accidental: the presence of the wetland was essential, since its waters were used to cool the ingots.
