Caloca: Heritage and Hiking Routes

Caloca: Heritage and Hiking Routes

Caloca can be approached when planning your trip through two specific themes: historic buildings in the village and hiking routes that start or end in Caloca. The Iglesia de La Asunción de Caloca stands in the village centre, in its highest part. If you are looking for a hotel for a trip to Caloca, you can first consider whether village history or hiking will be your main focus. The buildings and routes provide specific points of reference.

Churches and Historic Traces

The bell gable of the Iglesia de La Asunción de Caloca is Romanesque and probably dates from the late 12th or early 13th century. The archivolts at the portal are slightly pointed; the outer archivolt is decorated with prominent diamond-shaped points. Archivolts are the mouldings that frame a portal arch. Look for two distinct details: the shape of the arches and the decoration of the outer arch. Looking at individual architectural features offers a specific way to explore the church’s architecture.

Another building with its own cultural significance is the Ermita de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción in Caloca. It has been protected as an Asset of Cultural Interest since 24 June 1996. This means that, in addition to the Iglesia, there is another named religious building that forms part of Caloca’s heritage.

The former parish house of Caloca also bears historic details: the building has a coat of arms. An inscription names Miguel López de Lamadrid as its builder and also gives the year 1628. A coat of arms is a heraldic symbol, while the inscription names a person and a year. This means you can observe both visual and written features on the same house.

Hiking Routes with Different Points of Reference

Ruta 12: Valle de Caloca starts in Caloca. The route to Pico Bistruey also leads from Caloca. It passes through oak and beech forests to the high pastures and moors at the foot of the mountain. Both routes therefore start in the village; the route to Pico Bistruey also passes through a sequence of specifically named landscapes. If you want to plan your hike around forests, high pastures and moors, this description is a useful point of reference.

The Calzada Romana route differs above all in its course and historical connections. It begins at the Ermita de San Roque in Vendejo and ends in the village of Caloca. Along the way, it passes through an oak forest in Sierras Albas and follows a section of an old Roman road. So, in this case, the starting point and destination are not both in Caloca: the route runs from Vendejo to Caloca. It also includes the stretch of road that gives the hike its name.

The routes can therefore be distinguished using two practical questions: where does the trail start or end, and which landscape or historical connection is mentioned? Ruta 12 and the route to Pico Bistruey start in Caloca; the Calzada Romana begins in Vendejo and ends in Caloca. As for the landscape, the Pico route passes through forests and climbs to high pastures and moors, while the Calzada Romana includes a section of an old road.

Plan Your Arrival

Because the lanes are narrow, it is recommended that you park your vehicle as soon as you arrive in Caloca. Take this advice into account when planning your arrival, before focusing your stay on the village’s buildings or one of the hiking routes.

You can choose between different ways to focus your visit: the church and other historic buildings in the village, or routes that start or end in Caloca. You can decide which will shape your stay by considering the architectural details, the respective starting points and destinations, and the landscapes described.

Discover more destinations: Lomeña, Lerones

Return to the wider travel overview: Pesaguero.