Discover Cornellana: Monastery, Camino Primitivo and River Landscape

Cornellana takes center stage with San Salvador Monastery and the Camino Primitivo. The monastery was founded in 1024 by Infanta Cristina, the daughter of King Bermudo II and Queen Velasquita. After the death of her husband, Ordoño, she withdrew there.

Culture and History

The architectural complex comprises the church and the adjoining monastery. The church is a Romanesque building remodeled in the second half of the 17th century, with a basilica-style floor plan featuring three naves, a three-part apse, a two-story square side-tower structure and cruciform pillars.

The Camino Primitivo passes through Cornellana, where San Salvador Monastery is located. It is recognized as an element of the UNESCO World Heritage site associated with the Camino Primitivo; since 2015, the monastery has been listed as part of the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The monastery traditionally housed a pilgrims’ hostel, which was already mentioned at the end of the 15th century. The Cornellana pilgrim hostel has 24 places, is located next to Cornellana Monastery and is open year-round.

History, architectural form and the connection to the Way of St. James stand side by side here. This makes it possible to view the visit in different ways: through the founding history, the surviving architectural features or the monastery’s historical function as a point of arrival for pilgrims.

Hiking and Cycling

The Sendero del Salmón PR-AS 128 is an 11.9-kilometer-long, easy, linear hiking trail that begins and ends in La Rodriga and can be walked year-round. Its route follows the Narcea River from the La Rodriga recreation area to Bárcena and passes through Cornellana by San Salvador Monastery.

The trail partly runs through the Río Narcea Special Protection Area in the Natura 2000 network. It also passes through river landscapes and by the Las Mestas salmon protection area. Different types of paths and route lengths provide you with various points of comparison for your own planning.

The Camino Primitivo road cycling route from Oviedo/Uviéu to Tineo passes through Corniana/Cornellana.

This provides different forms of travel for active days. The hiking trail is clearly described by its length, route and connection to the river, while the road cycling route places Cornellana within a longer connection between Oviedo/Uviéu and Tineo. These differences make the two routes recognizable as separate elements of trip planning.

River and Recreation

The Narcea River near Cornellana is considered a body of water valued for salmon fishing. The La Rodriga recreation area is located in Cornellana in the valley of the Nonaya River and offers green spaces as well as areas for relaxation.

The river, protected area and recreation space represent different landscape reference points: the Narcea River is associated with salmon fishing, while La Rodriga is associated with green spaces and quiet areas. This picture is complemented by events focusing on fishing, nature and the river environment.

Accommodation

For a holiday apartment in Cornellana, you can compare travel dates, room categories and cancellation policies on accommodation listings.

Other Places

Other place pages: La Granja, Salas, Malleza, Santiago De La Barca.

Events

Cornellana hosts CAPENASTUR, a fishing and nature fair that includes the Subasta del Campanu, the auction of the first salmon of the season. The program includes exhibitions of fishing equipment, nature stalls, workshops and activities related to the river environment and the natural surroundings of the municipality.

To the overarching travel overview: Salas.