Discover Villaescusa: Culture, Nature and the Vía Verde

Villaescusa takes you far back in time in Villanueva de Villaescusa: the archaeological sites of Cueto de Morín are protected as an Asset of Cultural Interest in the archaeological zone category. In Cueva de Morín, the burial of a man from the Aurignacian, preserved through natural transformation and approximately 30,000 years old, was discovered.

Archaeology and History

The hill with Cueva Morín in Villanueva de Villaescusa also includes the lower-lying Cueva del Oso. Lithic artefacts were found on its surface. The assignment of both caves to the same hill and the lower location of Cueva del Oso give the archaeological perspective a clear spatial structure. The combination of the discovery history, the cave names and their spatial classification can be read as a distinct cultural focus alongside the later buildings.

La Torre, also known as Dos Lagos, originated from a medieval tower belonging to the Ceballos family and is dated to the 16th century. The present-day building of La Torre appears to date from the 18th century and to have been extensively remodelled in the 19th century. The main substance of the Iglesia de San Juan Bautista appears to date from the 16th or 17th century. The different dates associated with La Torre should be read as a chronological sequence rather than condensed into a single construction phase. Several periods converge at La Torre: its medieval origins, its dating to the 16th century, the presumed 18th-century date of the present building fabric and the extensive remodelling in the 19th century. The Iglesia de San Juan Bautista adds its own sequence to this, with a date limited to the 16th or 17th century.

The Fiestas de San Mamés in Villanueva take place at the Ermita de San Mamés on 6 and 7 August.

Routes

The Vía Verde de Villaescusa runs between El Astillero and Obregón along the route of the former Astillero–Ontaneda railway line, which has since disappeared. It is approximately 8 kilometres long and suitable for pedestrians and cyclists. The approximate route length and the two types of use provide different points of reference when you plan to combine exercise and culture in your day.

The railway lines operated by Renfe and Feve are designated as access routes to the Vía Verde de Villaescusa. Within the municipality of Villaescusa, the Ría de Solía offers a landscape with stands of reeds, rushes and bulrushes.

The cultural, landscape and activity-related focuses can be assessed separately: someone interested in early human history and historic buildings will experience the place differently from someone planning a day on a former railway line. The landscape of the Ría de Solía also provides its own distinctive element. The choice of accommodation remains tied to your personal travel plan, without conflating the cultural and landscape themes.

More places: Pesaguero, Vioño, La Gándara, Santibáñez, Ormas, Liendo, Arnuero, Camargo

For the broader travel overview: Cantabria.