Villar on the Río Híjar: Churches, Forest and Circular Hiking Trail

Landscape

Villar lies at an altitude of about 970 metres on the Río Híjar, on the first slopes of Liguardi. Immediately north of Villar’s last houses, an extensive oak forest stretches across the area, also covering the areas of Proaño and La Hoz de Abiada. Riverside vegetation as well as ash trees, poplars and willows grow along the banks of the Río Híjar near Villar.

Hiking

The PR-S40 circular hiking trail, “Camino a los Pies del Liguardi”, leads from Naveda via Ormas, Proaño, Villar and Hoz de Abiada back to Naveda. The municipality includes the PR-S40 hiking trail, “Camino a los pies del Liguardi”, in its network of hiking routes. The trail’s landscapes therefore range from the riverbank through the oak forest to the slopes of Liguardi, connecting several places in a circular route.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Villar, you can view travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions side by side on the respective offer pages. Different options remain comparable in their presentation for your own planning based on the same details.

Culture

The parish church of Saints Justo and Pastor follows the simple Campurrian Baroque style of the 17th and 18th centuries and shows influences of the Herrera tradition. The church’s main altar consists of two structures above a predella and five panels; its architectural language recalls the Tridentine Classicism of the first decades of the 17th century. The Chapel of Santa Lucía and the church’s baptistery have pointed arches that recall a possibly Gothic predecessor building from the 15th century.

The Church of San Justo y San Pastor in Villar contains an epitaph of the priest Nahino from 1036 set into the floor. To visit the Church of San Justo y Pastor in Villar, visitors can ask the local resident Sagrario to open the doors for them. The Casona-Torre de los Celis probably dates from the 17th century, was later extended with a tower and has a magnificent portal bearing a coat of arms.

The Casa Concejo has rich geometric and floral decoration around its central window. The Ermita de San Miguel lies beyond the Río Híjar, clearly outside Villar’s town centre, at the site of Somacelada. It is probably a single-nave building from the 18th century and has a bell gable with three openings. The image of the Virgen de Labra, patron saint of the Hermandad de Campoo de Suso, is kept in the Ermita de San Miguel.

Festivals and Tradition

According to local tradition, the shepherd Justo Bazo found the image of the Virgen de Labra on the summit of Cuesta Labra on 22 July 1615. In Villar, the festival of Saints Justo and Pastor is held on 6 August and includes a Campurrian ronda, folklore performances and a romería. In the wider surrounding region, traditional celebrations take place on 5 August at the Ermita de la Virgen de Labra in the meadows of Somacelada; these include Mass, a communal paella meal, the rosary, football, folklore and an orchestra.

Getting There

Villar can be reached via the CA-183 road from Reinosa to Alto Campoo. After Espinilla, a local road leads uphill to Villar after almost 3 kilometres.

Other Places

Las Rozas De Valdearroyo, Villamoñico, Puente San Miguel, Miengo, Dueso, Cabuérniga, Villapresente, Valdáliga

Local Flavour

Villar is home to the artisan cheese dairy “Quesos Merrelamo”, which is considered the municipality’s only cheese dairy.

To the higher-level travel overview: Cantabria.