Villacarriedo between valley history and nature

Villacarriedo lies in the basin of the Río Pisueña, in the heart of the Valle de Carriedo. The stretch of river in Villacarriedo is included in the Río Pas Site of Community Importance within the Natura 2000 network. You can explore the town’s historic and artistic ensemble on a stroll and gain an insight into the valley’s history. Architecture, waterways, and hiking trails offer different focal points for planning your trip.

Palaces, church, and local history

The Palacio de Soñanes was built between 1719 and 1724 over a medieval defensive tower. Its monumental staircase incorporates the central tower, illustrating the distinctive connection between the two structures. The Colegio de los Padres Escolapios also has a place in the town’s history: it was founded in 1746. It includes the Iglesia de San Antonio, with three naves and a hemispherical dome decorated with stars.

In the final third of the 19th century, the work of several members of the Colegio helped improve the valley’s infrastructure. This included the construction of a bridge over the Pisueña in Villacarriedo. The municipality’s documented cultural heritage also includes a number of traditional montañes houses. The Cajigona is a centuries-old, emblematic oak tree in one of the town’s squares.

Hiking trails and landscape

The municipal landscape is characterized by hay meadows dotted with pasiego huts. Numerous streams run through Villacarriedo and contribute to the municipality’s abundance of rivers and fish; eel, salmon, and trout are among the species mentioned. Those interested in a hike can choose between two different trail guides: PR-S56 Río Rubionzo y la Zarrizuela and PR-S53 Hayal de Aloños.

The PR-S56 runs through the Río Rubionzo basin between the municipalities of Saro and Villacarriedo. The walk is listed as taking approximately an hour and a half and is considered comfortably accessible in every season and for all visitor groups. The signposted and waymarked PR-S53 Hayal de Aloños starts in Aloños. Within the municipality of Villacarriedo, its starting point is in the village square, next to the Ermita de San Fructuoso.

On the PR-S53, the trail passes through a beech forest. There, two streams form small cascades over limestone. La Torca, a large karst cave formed by the dissolution of limestone, lies beside the route. The upper reaches of the Rubionzo stream at Monte de Zarrizuela are also home to a well-preserved area of native broadleaf woodland, with oaks and chestnuts.

Cultural heritage and excursions

The Molino de Rubionzo also brings together engineering and architectural history: it retains its original mechanism and millrace, as well as a remarkable 19th-century stone bridge. For a different perspective on the region’s architecture, take the 10 km “Los pueblos carredanos” driving route. It runs from Bárcena de Carriedo through Tezanos, Pedroso, Santibáñez, and Aloños. Along the way, architectural features such as manor houses, traditional homes, fountains, and bowling alleys take center stage. A hike through the landscape and a drive to several settlements offer two different ways to explore the area.

Getting there and a cheese-making tour

Villacarriedo is connected by bus to Santander and by the Aloños–Villacarriedo–Selaya route. Check the timetable before you set off, as bus schedules may change. If you would also like to include cheese-making in your travel plans, La Jarradilla offers a guided tour of the cheese dairy, with explanations of how the cheeses are made and matured, followed by a guided tasting of the varieties produced there. Confirm availability before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Marina De Cudeyo, Bareyo, Nestares, Ontoria, Aja, Ontón, Corvera De Toranzo, Ibio

For the broader travel guide: Cantabria.