Puntos de Interés
Municipality
Mier
In the Altu de Peñamellera Valley, five kilometres from Alles, lies the rugged village of Mier. The town is watered by the Cares River amidst the green mountains of the Sierra del Cuera and the Picos de Europa. It is the capital of the parish that bears its name and is made up of two different neighbourhoods: Niserias and Mier. The Mier River also divides the neighbourhood of Mier into Mier de Acá and Mier de Allá, which could be translated as Mier Over Here and Mier Over There.
Like many other villages in the valley, it has a tradition of livestock farming. The inhabitants of Mier used to make cheeses, sell apples, chestnuts, hazelnuts, and, of course, they enjoyed the fruits of the Cares River, which is known for its salmon and trout.
One of the most important historical events in the town is associated with the Vela Ximenez family. They were an important noble family from Álava that fought with the counts of Castile and even killed the heir to the county of Castile in the year 1029. This led to a battle between the families that caused the death of two out of three of the heirs of the Vela Ximénez family. This event was significant for the Mier family as their last surviving descendant managed to escape to the Cantabrian Coast, where his heirs thrived in the village of Mieres. The family adopted the name of the village and became influential in the valley.
The influence of the Mier family in the village gave rise to three palaces, which still stand today. One of them is the 16th-century Palace of La Lanjarera, which is a rural palace complex that has been included in the Architectural Heritage of Asturias. The other two are emblazoned houses that are no longer used.
Another significant piece of infrastructure in the town is the bridge that crosses from one neighbourhood to another, known as the Puente México (Mexico Bridge). It was paid for by former residents of Mier who had emigrated to Mexico. This was not unusual as many other people travelled to America or Europe when it was no longer possible to make a living from livestock.
While we are on the subject of water, another ethnographic feature of the village is the Mier Mill. It is the last corn mill in Peñamellera Alta. It has two millstones, only one of which is still working. The channel that takes the water to the Mill is perfectly preserved.
Mier has an example of religious architecture in the Church of Saint Peter, a white building adorned with a bell gable and a bell on its roof. Inside, it houses frescoes that were done by the same painter as those in Asiego de Cabrales and Rozagás, and they use the same colours to depict the same scene. These paintings were discovered while the church was being restored and they depict The Last Supper. Although it is not known exactly when they were done, it is thought that they are from the Middle Ages.
The church is associated with the patron saint festivities of Mier, which take place on 6th August in honour of Saint Justus and Pastor. The celebration begins near the school, which has been converted into social centre, where the young girls and the children make a bouquet. A procession marches through the town, to the beat of drums. Then there is a high mass, and the bouquet is auctioned in the church square. Of course things would not be complete without popular local music and children's games.
And finally, you should not miss the Cares River natural beach called Piélago. It is made up of natural sand deposits, and you can relax and enjoy nature here.