Solana: Argul, Culture and Trails in Pesoz

Near Solana lies Argul, a village whose stone buildings rest on natural rock and are connected by galleries and tunnels. Casa de Vilar contains a tunnel around 20 metres long; the rock is also home to the Capilla de San Antonio, with a Baroque altarpiece.

Culture and history

On the border between the municipalities of Pesoz and San Martín de Oscos lies Castro de San Isidro, a circular hill fort with several ditches and upright defensive stones. The castro can optionally be reached on foot, and visitors may explore it freely.

Within the enclosure of the former Palacio de los Ron, in the municipality of Pesoz and next to the San Andrés Chapel, stands the medieval Castillo de Pesoz. The Palacio de los Ron has four wings around a central courtyard and a main façade with two square corner towers. The building is privately owned; only the exterior areas can be visited.

The Iglesia de Santiago in Pesoz is 3 km south of Solana, has Romanesque origins and preserves several Baroque works of art from the 18th century. In the municipality of Pesoz, A Paicega is an abandoned workers’ settlement from the mid-20th century. It was built in connection with the construction of the Salime Dam; the PR-AS 169 connects Pezós/Pesoz with the former settlement, which was built for its workers.

Near Solana, A Paicega retains barracks that were converted into homes, as well as a church dedicated to the Virgen de La Luz and the remains of the cable car. The settlement offers views of the Navia River gorge.

Landscape

In the municipality of Pesoz, the Área Recreativa del Río Agüeira on the banks of the Agüeira River offers a large picnic area with bathing facilities. The Área Recreativa de Boulón is located on the AS-12 and also serves as a viewpoint overlooking the village of Argul, which is protected as a site of cultural interest.

The Mirador de A Paicega offers views of part of the middle course of the Navia River and the surrounding mountain ranges. The municipality of Pesoz is also home to El Couso del Lobo, a wolf trap with a large enclosure made of slate masonry. The walls are approximately one metre thick and two to three metres high.

The Museo Etnológico de Pesoz provides information about wine and traditional winegrowing, including vine cultivation, winemaking, distillation and grape varieties.

Things to do

The PR-AS 117 starts in Pezós/Pesoz and follows the Agüeira River through chestnut and pine forests. It is an 8.12 km, moderately difficult mountain hike in the form of a circular route; the estimated duration is 3 to 5 hours.

Pesoz-Argul-Bousoño is a mountain bike route classified as very difficult, running along forest tracks between the Agüeira River gorge and the Ahío River. The different route lengths, durations and activity types can be compared side by side for planning your own day.

More places

Another place page at the same level leads to San Pedro De Agüeira.

Argul can be reached from Navia via the AS-12 towards Pesoz; at kilometre 58, follow the signposted turn-off onto a track. El Couso del Lobo can be reached in the municipality of Pesoz by leaving the AS-12 at Pelorde, continuing via Villabrille and then taking a forest track. A 1 km-long unpaved road leads from Sanzo to the Mirador de A Paicega.

To the higher-level travel overview: San Martín De Oscos.