Valoria brings together the Sendero Real, traces of everyday life in the past, and a layered local history. The route passes through Valoria and highlights the small Ermita de San Pantaleón; it also features rows of traditional Montañés houses, a restored former washhouse, and the history of an industrial kiln.

Getting there and the Sendero Real

Valoria can be reached via the CA-135 and the turnoff at La Hayuela via the CA-376. Check current road conditions before setting out. The Sendero Real passes through the village and highlights the Ermita de San Pantaleón as a special point of interest. The route is described as easy, suitable for hiking and mountain biking, and suitable for all audiences. Conditions may vary seasonally; take this into account when planning.

Here, the route and local history come together in a tangible way: the chapel is part of the Sendero Real, while the houses, former washhouse, and kiln offer further ways to explore Valoria. Those mainly interested in walking have a clear focus in the easy route. Those more interested in the village’s development will find various historical and architectural topics to explore.

Houses and the history of the kilns

Valoria has rows of traditional Montañés houses. Stone and wood, along with south-facing solanas in most cases, are characteristic of the Montañés house type in the municipality. The former washhouse in the village has been restored. The rows of houses and the restored former washhouse point to different aspects of the village’s character. At the beginning of the 19th century, the construction of the industrial kiln at Tejera de La Venta de Valoria marked the decline of pre-industrial kilns. This history offers a different perspective on the village than the route: it is about changes in kilns, not an additional hiking destination.

The place name is also linked to an interpretation of the local past. Valoria is interpreted as “gold valley” or “golden valley”; this interpretation is associated with local mining of zinc- and lead-rich minerals, particularly blende. This is a traditional interpretation, not a confirmed linguistic explanation.

Historical interpretations and a festival date

One theory identifies the ancient name Valobriga with present-day Valoria. It possibly links a permanent Roman settlement in the area with mineral extraction. The Valobriga hypothesis is also cited as an argument for a possible Roman branch of the Pisoraca–Costa Cantábrica road, which crossed Udías and ran toward Comillas and San Vicente de la Barquera. This is a historical interpretation, not a confirmed, signposted visitor route.

San Pantaleón is celebrated in Valoria every year on July 29. The annual village festivities in Udías include a Mass, the dance of the Picayos in honor of the saint, and an evening Romería and Verbena. Check the current program before your trip. The planning considerations differ: conditions on the Sendero Real may vary seasonally, while San Pantaleón is celebrated annually on July 29. If both matter to your visit, take both the route conditions and the festival program into account when planning.

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