Villacarriedo lies in the Río Pisueña basin, in the heart of the Valle de Carriedo. You can explore its historic-artistic complex on foot and gain insight into the history of the valley. The landscape also offers different perspectives: from pasiego huts amid hay meadows to beech forest, small waterfalls and a karst cave.
The Pisueña Basin and Its Landscape
The stretch of the Río Pisueña in Villacarriedo is part of the Río Pas Site of Community Importance in the Natura 2000 network. Numerous streams run through the municipality, shaping its river landscape and abundant fish life. Fish species include eel, salmon and trout.
The landscape within the municipality is shaped by hay meadows dotted with pasiego huts. At the headwaters of the Rubionzo stream on Monte de Zarrizuela, there is also a well-preserved area of native broadleaf forest with oaks and chestnut trees. This woodland adds a distinctive landscape feature to the open meadows.
Architectural History and Heritage
The Palacio de Soñanes was built between 1719 and 1724 over a medieval defensive tower. Its monumental staircase incorporates the central tower. The building’s history thus combines the older defensive structure with the later palace, whose staircase is a distinctive architectural feature.
The Colegio de los Padres Escolapios in Villacarriedo was founded in 1746. It includes the Iglesia de San Antonio, with three naves and a hemispherical dome decorated with stars. During the last third of the 19th century, the work of some members of the Colegio helped improve the valley’s infrastructure. This included the construction of a bridge over the Pisueña in Villacarriedo.
The municipality’s heritage also includes a number of traditional montañés houses. The Cajigona de Villacarriedo is a centuries-old emblematic oak in one of the town’s squares. The Molino de Rubionzo preserves traces of its industrial past, including its original mechanisms, a diversion channel and a remarkable 19th-century stone bridge.
Hiking Trails and Excursions
The signposted and waymarked PR-S53 Hayal de Aloños begins in Aloños, within the municipality of Villacarriedo, in the village square beside the Ermita de San Fructuoso. In the municipality, the route passes through a beech forest where two streams form small waterfalls over limestone. La Torca, a large karst cave formed by the dissolution of limestone, lies beside the route.
Another hiking option is the PR-S56 Río Rubionzo y la Zarrizuela, which runs through the Río Rubionzo basin between the municipalities of Saro and Villacarriedo. It is considered an easy walk, accessible to all visitor groups and in every season, taking about an hour and a half. On the PR-S53, the forest, waterfalls and karst cave are the main landmarks; for the PR-S56, the river basin and approximate duration are useful for planning. Check trail conditions before setting out.
Another way to discover the region is the 10 km “Los pueblos carredanos” driving route. From Bárcena de Carriedo, it goes through Tezanos, Pedroso, Santibáñez and Aloños. Manor houses, traditional homes, fountains and bowling alleys offer insights into the architectural features along the route.
Bus Connections and Cheese-Making
Villacarriedo is served by bus connections with Santander and by the Aloños–Villacarriedo–Selaya route. Check the timetable before departure to plan your journey.
At La Jarradilla, a guided tour of the cheese dairy is offered, with explanations of the production and maturation process, followed by a guided tasting of the cheeses made there. Check whether the tour is available before travelling.
Discover more destinations: Argoños, Los Corrales De Buelna, Lavín, Dueso, Valmeo, Anero, Tezanos, Vioño.
For the main travel overview: Cantabria.
