Villanueva de Oscos: Monastery, Forests and Waterfalls

The Monastery of Santa María de Villanueva de Oscos was founded in 1137 by King Alfonso VII and his wife Berenguela and was the organisational centre of the agricultural and economic area in western Asturias for centuries.

Culture and History

The parish church belonging to the Monastery of Santa María de Villanueva de Oscos preserves original elements of the monastery church. These include a Romanesque apse, Baroque altarpieces and the tomb of Juan Álvarez Osorio. The traditional architecture in Villanueva de Oscos is characterised by stone, black slate, wood and glass.

Villanueva de Oscos also preserves traces of Roman gold mining, as well as other mining activities for the extraction of iron, copper, lead and zinc. The Vía Crucis Viviente is recognised as a Festival of Tourist Interest of the Principality of Asturias. At the beginning of August, the Festa dos Frailes takes place in the monastery in Vilanova as a community event combining music, art and cultural heritage.

The former Ferrería Mayor de Santa Eufemia has been revitalised as a workshop combining blacksmithing and macramé. The Ferrería Mayor de Santa Eufemia offers handcrafted products, tours and workshops.

Nature

Villanueva de Oscos is one of the Asturian municipalities within the Río Eo, Oscos y Terras de Burón Biosphere Reserve, which was recognised by UNESCO in 2007. The Santa Eufemia recreation area lies on a meadow at the confluence of the Villanueva and Pasarón rivers and is surrounded by native vegetation, meadows and gently sloping hillsides.

The Ruta del Silencio begins in San Cristóbal in Villanueva de Oscos, passes through abandoned villages and dense forests, and reaches the two major waterfalls of Celón, measuring 50 metres, and Picón, measuring 60 metres in height. The Senda Verde del Agüeira crosses untouched birch, oak and holly forests and leads through the mountain pastures of Lama, Chao de Bureiros and A Folgueirúa. It also runs through the Río Eo, Oscos e Terras do Burón Biosphere Reserve.

The Ruta de los Bosques leads to the Carballeira de Pacios, a well-preserved untouched oak forest. Different types of paths, landscapes and route features can be clearly distinguished when planning a day trip.

Hiking and Cycling Routes

The Por los Balcones de Villanueva route follows a mixed trail of wide paths and local roads and offers a high level of suitability for cycling. The Por los Balcones de Villanueva mountain biking route is a circular trail starting and ending in Villanueva de Oscos.

When booking a holiday apartment in Villanueva de Oscos, you can initially compare travel dates, room categories and cancellation policies on the offer pages. In addition, you can compare your desired travel period and preferred type of stay with your own plans before taking a closer look at a specific accommodation.

The same locality group includes Gestoso, Ron and Villarquille.

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Villanueva De Oscos.