The Romanesque church of La Asunción and the early medieval castle represent two distinct historical themes in Villamoñico; rock-cut tombs and cave dwellings add to the picture in the surrounding area. The Mardancho Route also includes a nearly level stretch beside the stream. For your stay, you can weigh up whether architectural history, archaeological traces or the described walking route should take centre stage. Villamoñico is accessible via the CA-751 road.
Church and castle: distinct historical evidence
The church of La Asunción was originally Romanesque. The central window of its former Romanesque bell gable wall survives; the church also preserves a carved corbel depicting a turtle. Thus, the church brings together an architectural element from the former gable wall and a figurative detail. Villamoñico is also one of the villages in southern Cantabria with interesting examples of vernacular architecture.
Villamoñico Castle dates from the early Middle Ages. Its walled enclosure has remnants of a ditch on the west side; inside is a necropolis of slab graves. Villamoñico’s school was designed by the architect Manuel Vías Sáenz-Díez. Together, these buildings and features offer different starting points for exploring the architectural history of the village.
Rock dwellings and medieval deserted settlements
La Media Fanega, a rock dwelling, lies on Mount La Mesa northeast of Villamoñico. Los Ventanos are also on La Mesa: cave dwellings carved into the rock between Villamoñico and Villanueva de la Nía. They were probably used as hermitages during the period of repopulation. Their form as rock dwellings is clearly identified; their use as hermitages remains a probable historical interpretation.
San Pedro, a medieval deserted settlement, lies southeast of Villamoñico on the road to Berzosilla. Near San Pedro, visitors can see a rock-cut necropolis with around twenty anthropomorphic tombs. Anthropomorphic means that the tombs take human form; the number is approximate. The visible ruins at Villagarcía offer a different focus: this medieval deserted settlement lies south of Villamoñico on the La Lora plateau, where the remains of houses and livestock enclosures can be seen. The archaeological sites described therefore differ both in their location and in the traces that have survived.
The Mardancho Route and getting there
The Mardancho Route follows the road towards Villamoñico for a short stretch, then continues along a nearly level path near the Mardancho stream. When planning, it is worth considering these sections separately: “nearly level” describes the path beside the stream, not the short stretch of road as a whole. If you choose a route based on its course, you can take the change from road to path into account. Villamoñico itself is accessible via the CA-751 road.
Accommodation in Villamoñico
Posada Peñasalve in Villamoñico is a fully restored country house with an area of 650 square metres. The restoration preserved traditional local architecture and retained stone and wood features. If you are considering this accommodation for your stay, it is best to check availability before booking.
Discover more destinations: Bárcena de Pie de Concha, Torices, Otañes, Vega De Liébana, Santoña, Valderredible, Hermandad De Campoo De Suso, Abionzo.
Back to the regional travel overview: Cantabria.
