Merás: Cultural Heritage, Cycling and Hiking Trails

Merás does not begin its history with a general panorama, but with a specific architectural testimony: the Escuelas de Rellón de Merás are included in the Cultural Heritage Inventory of Asturias as part of a selection of 120 schools of heritage interest. The place thus emerges as a setting where named buildings, paths and archaeological sites stand side by side.

Cycling and Hiking

The surrounding area can be explored along two different routes. The official Luarca–Tinéu road cycling route is 66 kilometres long, challenging and linear. It reaches Merás and continues along the AS-351 towards Paredes.

The Merás River winds through a narrow gorge, while the route includes steep climbs. A hiking route passes through woodland and nature, offering good views of the brañas it crosses as well as the Valdés coast. On its return to San Pedro, it passes through Merás and La Llamiella.

The linear road cycling route and the hiking route focus on different aspects: on the bike, distance, route and climbs take centre stage; while hiking, woodland, brañas and coastal views combine with the return via San Pedro and La Llamiella. This makes it possible to distinguish active days according to the character of the route and its relationship with the landscape.

For your planning, you can weigh the different forms of travel and landscape features separately. Those who structure their day differently can use the information on distance, route and surroundings as separate points of reference.

Getting There

From Brieves, you can reach Merás via the AS-221 towards “Merás-Paredes”.

Culture

A Roman inscription dedicated to Jupiter was discovered in El Rellón de Merás. This Jupiter inscription is currently missing. In 1830, Rafael Díaz Argüelles made a copy of the inscription from the original.

The exterior of the Ermita de Nuestra Señora de Merás features a portico, buttresses and a flat-ended chancel that is lower than the nave. Inside, there is a single nave with the visible timber structure of the pitched roof and a pointed triumphal arch separating it from the chancel.

Travel Planning

A holiday apartment in Merás can be considered separately from the location’s described features when planning your trip. On a booking page, travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions appear as separate details alongside one another. The choice between the cycling route, hiking trail and cultural attractions, by contrast, depends on the respective details of the routes, landscapes and buildings.

Other Places

Nevares, Llueves, Loujedo, Villa, Camuño, Muñón Cimero, Cardoso, Beloncio

Archaeology

El Cerco de los Moros is a fortified archaeological area on the ridge separating the valleys of Paredes and Merás. It comprises an elliptical area measuring approximately 80 × 50 metres, with two ditches and the associated ramparts.

Carcabones de Merás is one of the sites that occur both in rock and in alluvium.

For the overarching travel overview: Asturias.