Carreña lies at the confluence of the Ría stream and the Casaño River. Its waterside setting gives the village a tangible connection to the landscape; at the same time, local themes range from agricultural use to medieval architectural history. There are different kinds of planning information for walks: a two-hour circular walk and a stage with a specified distance and difficulty rating.
Agricultural traces around Carreña
You can explore the remains of the agricultural site of Llanu Molín around Carreña. The winter huts there sheltered people and livestock from the cold and were also used for storage, cider-making and beekeeping. Llanu Molín thus connects the building remains with several specific uses of the agricultural site. The Fuente Las Llamas recreation area is also located in Carreña.
Walks with different planning information
The Ayuntamiento de Cabrales lists the Carreña–Llanu Molín–Carreña circular walk as taking two hours. Check local route conditions before setting out. A different scale is described by the third stage of the GR109 Asturias Interior: it runs from Carreña in the municipality of Cabrales to Benia in the municipality of Onís, is 17.16 kilometres long and is rated moderate. You should also check current conditions before walking this route.
The information answers different planning questions: for the circular walk, duration is the main consideration; for the GR109 stage, it is distance and difficulty rating. The Ruta de los Artistas de la Covaciella begins at the entrance to the Museo Casa Bárcena in Carreña. The Casa Bárcena houses a replica of the main chamber of the Cueva de la Covaciella, with its bison depictions. The exhibition at the Museo Casa Bárcena comprises four rooms; a section on the Picos de Europa contains 45 paintings.
Architectural history in the village
The Capilla de Nuestra Señora de la Salud is in the centre of Carreña. It was reconstructed in 1942 in the historicist style and draws on traditional forms; inside are murals depicting scenes related to the Virgen de la Salud. The Puente Antiguo, also known as the Puente Conceyu, is another notable historic structure: a well-preserved late-medieval single-arch bridge in Carreña.
The Casa Bárcena in Carreña de Cabrales is a manor house associated with the traditional architecture of the 16th and 17th centuries. In the upper part of the village, the Iglesia Parroquial de San Andrés stands in a small square marked by a yew tree. Together, these places show different aspects of Carreña’s architectural history: from bridge-building to religious architecture and manor houses.
Archaeology, views and local produce
La Peña Alba is a fortified settlement on a limestone rise at an altitude of 402 metres above Carreña and the Casaño River. It is interpreted as a high or full medieval-period site, not as a Roman tower. A different view of Carreña can be enjoyed on the uphill walk to Asiegu, which offers panoramic views of the village.
Cheese-making is also part of the local character: Carreña is one of the few places where Cabrales cheese is produced. Carreña has a weekly market on Saturdays; the Feria de San Ramón is a recurring agricultural and livestock fair. Check the market day, opening and future event dates before your trip.
Discover more destinations: Berodia, Puertas, Tielve, Inguanzo, Ortiguero, Asiego.
Go to the main travel guide: Cabrales.
