Laviana: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

In the upper valley areas of Laviana, landscapes form part of the Paisaje Protegido de las Cuencas Mineras protected area. Below Peña Mea, the Foces del Raigosu route leads through lush forests and limestone formations. Known as Foces del Raigosu (PR-AS 290), it runs through an impressive gorge between these forests and limestone formations. Along the route are forest habitats where visitors can observe robins, wrens, roe deer and goats.

Culture and History

Historical architecture includes the Iglesia de San Nicolás de Villoria, a Romanesque church dating from the 12th century that was extensively remodelled in the Renaissance style in the 16th and 17th centuries and is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural. The Puente de Villoria is a single-arch Romanesque bridge from the 12th to 13th century and retains its original paved bridge deck.

The Santuario de Nuestra Señora del Otero contains an 18th-century main altarpiece and an image of Nuestra Señora del Otero, which has been documented since 1654. The Iglesia de San Martín de Lorío contains significant Baroque altarpieces, including a main altarpiece from the first half of the 18th century.

The Torreón de El Condao is a defensive tower with origins in the Roman era. It was rebuilt under Alfonso I during the Asturian monarchy and later in the 14th century, and is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural. The Casona de los Menéndez Valdés is a building in the popular Baroque style with an attached chapel and is likewise protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural.

The Centro de Interpretación Armando Palacio Valdés is located in the birthplace of the author of „La Aldea Perdida“, a rural dwelling built in the 18th century. A reservation is required in advance for visits, between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., at telephone number 985 600 050. Another distinctive feature of local history is that on 7 June 2013, Laviana became the first municipality to declare cider its official institutional drink.

Nature and Landscape

At Peña Mea lies Ojo de Buey, a natural opening created by karst erosion in the limestone, with a diameter of more than 15 metres. A circular variation of the ascent of Peña Mea can begin in Les Campes in Laviana and return via Doñango and La Boyica.

The autumn rut of the deer is considered one of the most impressive spectacles in Laviana's forests. River fishing and hunting are among the most frequently practised sports and tourism activities here.

Routes and Activities

The free guided routes in Laviana are open to the general public and led by specialist staff from Turismo del Principado de Asturias. The Senderos del Carbón is a sustainable project to restore former paths used by miners to transport coal after extraction; the routes are located in the Nalón Basin within the municipality of Laviana.

For mountain bikes, there is the Senderos del Carbón Flow Trail, a 16-kilometre, very difficult circular route that starts and ends at La Chalana. Its downhill section is 3.5 kilometres long and is considered the first flow trail in Spain to be homologated according to the regulations of IMBA España. The trail initially follows a forest path and then returns via a tree-lined promenade parallel to the Nalón to the starting point at Puente de La Chalana.

The Senderos del Carbón–Bajo Nalón route leads to the Bocamina de La Sota, where the tragic mining accident of 1924 is commemorated. Puente d'Arcu lies on the banks of the Nalón, about two kilometres from La Pola Llaviana/Pola de Laviana; today, the site is used for recreation and leisure. From there, the Descenso Folklórico del Nalón travels to the 1.5-kilometre-distant Puente de La Chalana as a humorous water parade with homemade boats.

Geographical Location

The AS-17 is the most important road connection to Laviana.

Those choosing Laviana as a travel destination may want to rent a holiday apartment.

More location pages: Pando, Pola De Laviana, Carrio

For the higher-level travel overview: Asturias.

More Destinations

More places within the same destination:

Mieres, Morcín, Valle del Nalón, Langreo, Camín Real De La Mesa.