Beceña can be explored through two very specific features: the GR-109 passes through the village and along the Río Prunea, while the hórreo and Santo Toribio Chapel offer a cultural heritage perspective. If you are looking for a destination connected with hiking trails and architectural history, Beceña offers concrete points of interest for both. The route details help you place the village along a trail; the hórreo’s architectural features and the chapel’s classification tell another side of the village’s story.
The GR-109 along the Río Prunea
Stage 4 of the GR-109 Asturias Interior runs from Benia de Onís to Cangas de Onís and passes through Beceña. From Beceña, the GR-109 follows the Río Prunea through riverside vegetation. The section after Beceña has a gentle downhill slope and heads towards Llenín. This means that orientation is based both on a named river and a clear direction of travel. The stage details also place Beceña between the two named towns. If you include the GR-109 in your travel plans, you can use this information to decide how much to focus on the route or the river landscape.
Mountain biking
The Ruta BTT GR-109 is a mountain bike route with varied surfaces. It is 33.5 kilometres long, takes three hours, has 1,050 metres of elevation gain and is rated moderate. These details convey different aspects of the tour: its length and duration describe its scope, while the stated difficulty level offers a separate point of reference. From Beceña, the BTT route leaves the village along a paved road, crosses a bridge and reaches Llenín. After the turn-off to Beceña, the GR-109 is signposted with numerous posts, direction signs, distance signs and the characteristic red-and-white trail markers. Local conditions may change, so check them before setting out.
The hórreo and Santo Toribio Chapel
The hórreo in Beceña dates from around 1630 and is very archaic. Its architectural features include six pegollos and a low colondrame; engüelgos and gatos are absent.
Santo Toribio de Beceña Chapel is also listed under two categories in the Inventory of Cultural Heritage of Asturias: as an inventoried building (IPCA-EI) and as an inventoried archaeological site (IPCA-Y). Its legal cultural heritage classification was published in the Boletín Oficial del Estado on 28 October 2020. The hórreo, with its architectural design, and the chapel, with its classification, thus represent different aspects of Beceña’s cultural heritage.
Getting there and finding your way around
From Cangas de Onís, take the N-625 and then follow the AS-114 for about six kilometres to just before Mestas de Con. Then take the Ca-6 turn-off to Beceña. Santo Toribio Chapel is to the left of the village, in a newer residential area. This sequence provides directions using the named roads without assuming a fixed journey time. Local road conditions may change, so take this into account when travelling there.
River landscape and views of the Picos de Europa
There is also a yew tree in Beceña. The village is one of those with panoramic views of the Picos de Europa. Together with the Río Prunea and its riverside vegetation, these landscape features complement the route and cultural heritage themes: the river shapes the described course of the GR-109, while the panoramic views highlight another side of Beceña’s landscape. When choosing a destination, you can decide whether you would rather focus on the route, cultural heritage or scenery.
Discover more destinations: Corao, Caño, Covadonga, Igena, Mestas De Con, Perlleces, Labra, Cardes.
Return to the main travel overview: Cangas De Onis.
