Discover Orzales: Culture, Wetland and Trails by the Embalse del Ebro

The famous 34-arch bridge is Orzales’s most important cultural heritage site.

Culture and History

The Church of San Román in Orzales contains architectural elements dating from the 13th to the 17th century. It is Romanesque and was extensively remodelled during the Baroque period. For your visit, the historical stops can be arranged according to their architectural history, former use and contemporary history.

The Molino de Orzales was built in the 19th century for grinding grain. The restored Molino de Orzales can be visited when it is open. Orzales also contains the remains of an airfield that existed in the 1930s and was significant during the Spanish Civil War.

Nature

The Orzales biological micro-reserve is a small wetland that formed in the excavations of a former clay quarry used to produce bricks and roof tiles. Numerous birds visit the micro-reserve. A wooden walkway has been installed for visiting the ponds.

Historical sightseeing and nature observation therefore offer different focuses for planning your day. The themes can be considered separately or combined according to personal interest, without prescribing a fixed order.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Orzales, compare the travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions on the offer pages. This allows you to match different options with your own travel plans and take into account the desired combination of culture, nature and trail activities.

Other Places

For further travel planning, you can also choose Ruente, Santiurde De Toranzo, Cotillo, Mazcuerras, Luey, Lavín, Barros and Vega De Liébana.

Trails and Activities

The “De Orzales a Monegro” route begins in Orzales at the turn-off to Villapaderne. About 50 metres away are a livestock watering trough and a house with blue galleries. The surroundings described at the starting point provide two specific orientation points for the route description.

The “De Orzales a Monegro” route runs along the northern arm of the Embalse del Ebro; the flora and fauna of the surrounding area can be observed along the way. The connection with the landscape is therefore explicitly centred on the water and on plant and animal life.

The 25,725-metre-long hiking trail begins at the livestock watering trough in Orzales, where the starting sign is located. The route details offer different points of comparison, such as length, course and connection with the landscape.

Between Orzales and Lanchares, it is possible to go snowshoeing on a network of firebreaks with a gentle incline. This keeps hiking and snowshoeing clearly distinct as different types of activity for personal planning.

Near the end of the route is the Church of San Román; it can be reached on foot or by car.

For planning your day, the activities can be distinguished by type, route length and connection with the landscape. A longer hiking trail stands alongside a route connected with the water and with animal and plant life; snowshoeing is an independent additional option with a gentle incline. This keeps the different focuses comparable.

For the overarching travel overview: Cantabria.