West of Matehuala is the tranquil ghost town of El Catorce, once a prosperous silver mining community that boasted a population of 40,000 in its heyday. Now, only a handful of residents remain, and the attractive churches, public buildings, and residences are slowly crumbling.
The town's name is said to have come from a band of 14 bandits . These infamous bandits continuously raided the trains that transported silver from the mines. The Mint Building (Casa de Moneda) stands as a ghostly reminder of the high volume of silver ($3 million annually in silver ore) produced by the mines in the region near El Catorce.
The town's name is said to have come from a band of 14 bandits . These infamous bandits continuously raided the trains that transported silver from the mines. The Mint Building (Casa de Moneda) stands as a ghostly reminder of the high volume of silver ($3 million annually in silver ore) produced by the mines in the region near El Catorce.
