Caviedes: Trails on Monte Corona and Historic Buildings

Caviedes combines trails on Monte Corona with historic churches, hermitages and manor houses. This gives you two main areas to focus on when planning your trip: routes with specified distances and elevation gains, and buildings whose history spans from the Middle Ages to the 18th century. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Caviedes, these differences can help you decide what to focus on during your trip.

Monte Corona: Routes and Getting There

The Monte Corona circular trail starts and ends at the San Antonio Hermitage near Caviedes. It is 9.5 kilometres long and has an elevation gain of 335 metres. If you start and finish the Monte Corona excursion in Caviedes, it is 3.3 kilometres longer and has an additional 100 metres of elevation gain; along the way, you can enjoy views of the western part of the region. The two starting options can therefore be compared by distance and elevation gain.

The trails on Monte Corona are suitable for cycling and are regularly used by cyclists. Along a section of about 100 metres, the trail disappears, so cyclists have to get off their bikes. A good forest track climbs from Caviedes to the San Antonio Hermitage; its first section is paved. There is a good parking area opposite the sanctuary. Caviedes can be reached via the A-8 or the N-634 Santander–Oviedo.

On the Monte Corona trail, eucalyptus plantations give way to a narrow strip of scrub and then to deciduous forest. There you will find impressive oak trees.

Churches and Hermitages

The present-day Church of Saints Justus and Pastor is in the centre of Caviedes. It dates from the 18th century and is the parish church of Caviedes and Vallines. The San Antonio Hermitage was rebuilt in 1713 and has a Latin cross floor plan. The local procession is held on 13 June: Saint Anthony is carried from the Campa to the San Antonio Hermitage, followed by a Romería.

The medieval San Pedro Hermitage is in the Barrio de San Pedro and is dedicated to Saint Peter. Its late Romanesque features may date from the 13th century; at the same time, an earlier pre-Romanesque building phase is thought to have preceded it.

Historic Buildings in Caviedes

The Casa solariega de los Pérez de la Canal manor house in Caviedes bears a coat of arms. The Casa-Torre de Caviedes forms part of Valdáliga’s civil architectural heritage; the Casa torre de los Rubín de Celis can also be seen in Caviedes.

The hermitage dedicated to the Holy Cross on Monte Corona lies within the present-day boundaries of the municipalities of Valdáliga and Udías. It is likely to have been used by the inhabitants of Caviedes since time immemorial. After a forest fire made it unusable, worship there was discontinued in 1975. The hermitage is in ruins and is no longer used for worship.

Discover more destinations: Cohiño, Camijanes, Torices, San Miguel de Meruelo, Ruente, Pumareña, Silió, Santa Cruz De Bezana

For the main travel overview: Cantabria.