Las Fraguas combines architectural history with easy walking routes. The town’s history includes a Cantabrian manor house dating from the late 17th century, the Palacio de los Hornillos, and the Iglesia de San Jorge, each representing a different era. There are also trails with clearly distinct distances and routes. When planning your trip—including choosing a hotel—you can first decide whether you’d like to focus more on architectural history or walking.
Easy Circular Routes and a Trail Toward Pedredo
The Paseo Palaciego is an easy 3 km circular route, suitable for the whole family. A longer option is the also-easy 5.9 km Rincones de Valdeiguña circular route. It starts at the Las Fraguas recreational area and passes through Palacio, Palazuelos, Cohiño, San Cristóbal, and Pedrero. Both routes are circular; their different distances can help you choose the one that best fits your day’s plans.
The Camino de La Santa Cruz adds another option: a route from Las Fraguas toward Pedredo. At the crossing by the Capilla de Nuestra Señora del Carmen, it crosses the Valdeiguña stream. Along the route, a footpath runs beside the S-201 road. The Las Fraguas recreational area is in the town center, next to the river and the municipal swimming pool facilities; Rincones de Valdeiguña also starts there. Check local information about access and facilities before your visit.
Manor House, Palace, and Local History
The Casona de Las Fraguas is a Cantabrian manor house dating from the late 17th century, built by the Marquesa de Cilleruelo. It was the family’s official residence for several generations, until the Dukes of Santo Mauro built the Palacio de los Hornillos on the same estate in 1900. The Palacio was built between 1897 and 1904 by the English architect Ralph Selden Wornum.
The architecture also reflects distinct influences: the Casona is a Cantabrian manor house, while the Palacio is an English palace in the Neo-Tudor style. This style is based on medieval English rural architecture. The two buildings thus illustrate a regional building type and an English architectural influence, while their histories are linked to the same estate.
The Palacio de los Hornillos was a filming location for Alejandro Amenábar’s 2001 film “The Others,” starring Nicole Kidman. The interior is not currently open to visitors because it is privately owned by the Duke of Don Carlos. Check access arrangements before your trip.
Iglesia de San Jorge and Capilla del Carmen
The Iglesia de San Jorge was commissioned in 1890 by the Dukes of Santo Mauro as a chapel-mausoleum, built over the ruins of a medieval hermitage. Its Neoclassical design is modeled on a Greek temple. The church has 40 Corinthian columns and is popularly known as “El Partenón.” The dukes donated it to the town to serve as a parish church; specific arrangements for its use may depend on local circumstances. The Capilla de Nuestra Señora del Carmen dates from the 18th century.
An Annual Celebration
The festival in honor of the Virgen del Carmen, celebrated in Las Fraguas for more than 200 years, takes place every year on the evening of July 15 and is classified as a festival of regional tourist interest. The specific events may vary from year to year. If you’d like to plan your stay around the celebration, check the festival information in advance.
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