Discover Esles: Churches, Manor Houses and Beech Forest

Esles preserves, in the Ermita de San Vicente, the only surviving evidence of the 9th-century Monastery of San Vicente de Fístoles. In the Pisueña Valley, this monastery was one of the early religious and colonising centres.

Culture

The present-day Ermita de San Vicente was built in the 16th century between Esles and Lloreda. The building consists of a single nave with a rectangular apse. Inside, there is a Baroque altarpiece in the Classical style dating from the 17th century.

The centre of Esles de Cayón is classified as a Site of Cultural Interest in the Pisueña Valley. The Iglesia de San Cipriano dates from the 16th century and has a Latin-cross floor plan and a square apse.

The tower of the Iglesia de San Cipriano dates from 1920 and is built of dressed stone, while the rest of the church is completely whitewashed. Inside are three altarpieces, religious sculptures and a baptismal font.

In the La Portilla district of Esles, in Santa María de Cayón, stands the Casona de Don Marcial Solana. It has a hipped roof and a south-facing dressed-stone façade. On the ground floor there is a segmental arch, while the upper floor has two balcony galleries; there are also projecting window grilles and a large entrance portal topped by the family coat of arms. The east-facing façade also features a wide continuous balcony.

A walk through the districts and corners of Esles and Lloreda reveals examples of Cantabrian vernacular and aristocratic architecture, including terraced houses and manor houses bearing coats of arms.

Landscape and trails

The Hayal de Esles lies where the valley narrows and rises to an altitude of around 500 metres.

The Hayedo de Esles–Gamoneo circular route passes through the beech forest near the centre of Esles and reaches the dam where the Gamoneo waterfalls form. On the return journey, it follows the river downstream along a path beside the watercourse, passes the Fuente de Don Jacinto spring and returns to Esles.

Regional speciality

Esles lies in the heart of the Valles Pasiegos, where sobao pasiego originates. Originally, this pastry was made with butter from cows of the native Pasiega breed.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Esles, you can compare travel dates, apartment size and cancellation conditions side by side. Depending on your personal plans, these details may be decisive, while the local highlights—churches, manor houses, the beech forest and the Gamoneo waterfalls—already offer different points of interest.

Discover more places

More places: Borleña, Corvera, Corvera de Toranzo, Somaniezo, La Canal, Nates, Ramales De La Victoria, Cuchia

Events

The programme of the San Cipriano patron saint festivities held in Esles from 14 to 16 September 2023 included a bolos competition, romerías, verbenas, children's games, a Pasiego high-jump competition, a food fair and a popular walk.

To the main travel overview: Cantabria.