Grandas de Salime: Culture, Trails and Water

In the vicinity of Grandas de Salime, the Central Hidroeléctrica de Salime is considered one of the finest and most monumental examples of Spain’s industrial water heritage. Murals and bas-reliefs combine architecture, painting and sculpture there.

Culture

The Museo Etnográfico “Pepe el Ferreiro” portrays the rural way of life and traditions of western Asturias. Across more than 3,000 m², up to 2,000 exhibits focus on traditional rural life and the occupations associated with it. The exhibition areas are spread across the Casa Rectoral, the Casa del Molinero and A Casoa, which are examples of the region’s traditional architecture.

The Colegiata de San Salvador preserves a former Romanesque portal that has been built into the present-day building. Parque Joaquín Vaquero Palacios is a rest area at the entrance to Grandas on the AS-14 road. From there, visitors can look out over the Casa de Dirección de Saltos del Navia, which was built as an engineers’ residence during the construction of the Salto de Salime.

The Área recreativa de Grandas is located 300 m from the town centre and has tables with benches, a barbecue and swings.

Trails

The final Asturian stage of the Camino Primitivo to Santiago de Compostela is 17 km long. It runs between La Mesa and Grandas de Salime and crosses the Puerto del Acebo into Galicia.

Stage 26 of the GR109 Asturias Interior runs from Grandas de Salime to Castro, is 10.4 km long, has a low difficulty level and takes around 3 hours on foot in one direction. The route follows paths through pine and oak forests, meadows and pastureland and offers views of the River Navia.

The Ruta de los Entornos de Grandas is a cycling route that begins near the Museo Etnográfico. The Senda Grandas - Santa María is an easy greenway connecting Grandas de Salime with the rural settlement of Santa María and suitable for bicycles. Its landscapes range from a restored washhouse to an oak forest.

In the vicinity of Grandas de Salime, the Ruta de Ponsabadelle crosses a medieval stone bridge dating from the 14th century. The different lengths, durations and activity types can be compared separately for your own planning.

Water

In the vicinity of Grandas de Salime, the Salto de Salime comprises a reservoir, a dam and a hydroelectric power station and is suitable for water sports and boating. In the vicinity, a boat service at the Salto de Salime connects the Pénjano jetty with Villarpedre.

For a further comparison of locations, you can visit Mazo De Riodecabalos.

History

In the vicinity of Grandas de Salime, the first fortified settlement was built around 800 BC on the upper plateau of the Castro de Chao Samartín. Also nearby, Túmulos del Canadeiro near the village of Xestoselo comprises a Neolithic burial group with six burial mound structures.

In the vicinity of Grandas de Salime, La Xorenga forms Asturias’ most extensive collection of rock engravings. The petroglyphs are spread across various shale outcrops over a length of approximately 500 m. Also in the vicinity of Grandas de Salime, Chao Samartín contains the ruins of a Roman house of approximately 500 m² dating from the High Empire, with rooms arranged on two levels around an atrium.

In the vicinity of Grandas de Salime, the settlement sequence of the Castro de Pelóu dates back to the beginning of the Iron Age. In later centuries, during the 1st and 4th centuries AD, the site was fortified again.

To the main travel overview: Grandas De Salime.