Santa María De Ordás: Tower, Trails and Nature

Santa María De Ordás lies along the Río Luna. When looking for a hotel in Santa María De Ordás, you can first decide which themes you want to shape your stay: the history of the Torre de Ordás, trails through holm oak landscapes or birdwatching at the Embalse de Selga de Ordás. The area also has archaeological traces from pre-Roman times, as well as buildings and former uses in some of the municipality’s villages.

The Torre de Ordás and its history

The Torre de Ordás is a partially preserved cylindrical structure of military architecture, more than 20 metres high. Architectural evidence suggests it had five floors. In the 14th century, Don Pedro Suárez de Quiñones had the tower built over the remains of an earlier fortress, whose origins are unknown. It commanded the confluence of the Luna and Omaña rivers.

The tower belonged to a complex of defensive fortresses on the banks of the Omaña, Luna and Órbigo rivers. Initially, this complex served to protect against the Muslims and later to secure the territories of the Quiñones, the lords of Luna. The structure offers a way to explore different chapters of local history: the earlier fortress on the site, the 14th-century defensive structure and the changing role of the fortress complex.

Trails through holm oak landscapes and birdwatching

The La Tierra de Ordás route starts in Santa María De Ordás. Following an old path towards Formigones and Villapodambre, it passes through an area of holm oaks. Between Formigones and Callejo de Ordás, it crosses a dehesa with old cultivated fields among the oaks. These sections therefore differ both in their landscapes and in their history of use: alongside the holm oaks, the former cultivated fields are also a feature of the dehesa.

Resident waterbirds make their home at the Embalse de Selga de Ordás; various migratory species arrive in winter. The birds are easy to observe from the path along the reservoir shore. For orientation, there is a route that can lead north from the car park along a short path and south along a shoreline path. Water levels can affect access to the reservoir’s inlet.

Other historical traces

Adrados de Ordás is home to the Castro Astur, an archaeological site dating from pre-Roman times. In Santa María De Ordás, the church was built of stone in 1952; inside, it has arches. Its bell tower dates from 1918. These dates refer to different parts of the building: the church and its bell tower.

A building in Callejo de Ordás also tells of a former use. An old mill there was used in winter to grind rye or wheat into flour using the stream’s water power. Its seasonal operation and use of water power are part of local history, along with the tower and the archaeological site in Adrados de Ordás.

Plan your journey

From León, one route follows the C-623 towards Villablino, takes the turn-off at Camposagrado near Rioseco de Tapia, and continues to Santa María De Ordás. Another route from the A-66 motorway takes the exit near La Magdalena, follows the LE-420 provincial road south to Rioseco de Tapia, and then continues to Santa María De Ordás. Check the route before setting off using up-to-date navigation.

Discover more destinations: Villadangos del Paramo, Candín, Ventosilla, Trabadelo, Santa María Del Páramo, Combarros, Páramo Del Sil, Vegacerneja.

Go to the main travel overview: León.