San Salvador del Valledor offers a glimpse of a historic settlement comprising traditional houses, outbuildings and paths. The parish church and earlier traces of human settlement also shape the themes to explore here. When planning your trip, road access is important alongside these cultural highlights.
Historic Settlement and Architecture
The settlement group of San Salvador del Valledor is considered a well-preserved example of traditional architecture in western Asturias. Its houses feature the Turria or Talud and blockhouse building types, adapted to the slope of the land. These forms link the settlement’s appearance to the terrain to which they have been adapted.
The built heritage includes Paneras, HĂłrreos, Cortinos, Parreiros, mills and smithies. Slate was used both for roof tiles and for building walls. Chestnut or oak wood was used for gates and cornices, as well as for the structures and walls of HĂłrreos and Paneras. These materials and outbuildings add further aspects of traditional architecture to the village, alongside its houses.
An administrative procedure was initiated to declare San Salvador del Valledor a protected cultural asset in the category of historic ensemble. The resolution was published on 24 March 2010. The parish church of San Salvador is highlighted within the settlement group as an important piece of public-use cultural heritage.
Historic Routes and a Winter Tradition
The CamĂn Real, also known as the CamĂn de Misa, connected San Salvador with the other settlements in the historic group. It also linked the three settlements with the parish church of San Salvador and its cemetery. Today, for much of its length, the historic route follows the AS-34 regional road. This creates a direct connection between the traditional route linking the settlements and the present-day road.
Os Reises del Valledor is a traditional winter masquerade from the Allande and Ibias area. The custom was revived after disappearing for half a century. In one edition, on 4 January 2025, the procession went from VillalaĂn through San Salvador to Fonteta. San Salvador can therefore also be viewed in connection with a regional winter tradition whose setting extends beyond the village.
Landscape and Earlier History
The Valledor River forms the central axis of San Salvador. Two valleys and their rivers converge at the foot of the village. This geographical setting adds a regional landscape perspective to the historic settlement.
Bronze Age rock carvings have been found at Pena Colmea in San Salvador and in the surrounding area. The Castro de San Salvador is considered evidence of a Celtic settlement of the Pésicos. Gold was mined by the Romans in Valledor about 2,000 years ago. These traces span rock carvings from the Bronze Age, the Celtic settlement and Roman mining, and represent different periods in Valledor’s history.
Getting There and Finding Accommodation
The usual road access to San Salvador del Valledor is via the ALL-6. Its junction is at an elevation of 1,098 metres at Alto del Pozo de las Mujeres Muertas on the AS-29, which connects Cangas del Narcea with San AntolĂn de Ibias. Check road conditions before setting out, as conditions on rural roads can change.
If you are looking for a hotel for a cultural stay, San Salvador can be a search destination: the focus here is on Valledor’s traditional architecture and cultural heritage. Include access via the ALL-6 in your plans when deciding whether the village suits your itinerary.
Discover more destinations: San MartĂn De Beduledo, Abaniella, Ferroy, Cereceda.
Return to the main travel overview: Allande.
