Puntos de Interés
Municipality
Rozagás
The village of Rozagás sits on the slope leading down to the River Jano, between Monte Artajo and Pico Turbina. It falls under the Peñamellera Alta Council and is located 8.6 km from its capital, Alles.
This small Asturian village is home to the Church of Saint Francis. It is an 18th-century parish church dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi. This example of popular religious art is built to a Latin cross floor plan. The apse is square, and there are two chapels to the sides. Entry is through a door decorated with a basket-handle arch that dates back to the 16th century. The bell gable that rises upwards on one of its walls is a notable feature from the outside.
The houses in the village are mountain-style houses, but there are also some that are built in a style called "indiano". This refers to houses built by former residents who went to America in search of a better life. These are lavish colonial architecture houses constructed in rural areas, that showcase the power and wealth acquired by the emigrants. One example of this type of house is the Casa de la Bolera, built in 1906. This house tells the story of a humble resident of Rozagás who was orphaned at a young age and went to Cuba. He made his fortune there and then came back to his village, where he built his indiano-style house. This house is recognisable by its façade, which is made of stone on the first floor and is white on the second floor. It also features a coat of arms over the door with the initials F.G. and the date of its construction.
The washhouse is another important feature in Rozagás, and is at the heart of the village. It was not merely a place for washing clothes but also a communal gathering spot for residents. Remnants of the village's historical activities are also preserved, with two millstones prominently displayed in the street.
The village has a history of livestock farming so its activity was not much different from that of other villages in the valley. However, it is characterised by a traditional product, the cheese of Rozagás. This cheese is made from a blend of cow, goat, and sheep's milk. Rozagás is also one of the original villages where Cabrales cheese is produced. This legendary cheese from Asturias is hand-made in naturally occurring caves, where it matures and absorbs intense, pleasant aromas from the fungi.
Iron and manganese mining also became part of the village's economy when a mine with two names, Mina La Edrada, and Mina del Oso was inaugurated. Mining operations in the Sierra del Cuera began in the late 19th century, and the concession for the mine's activity ended in 2001. The mine is located at the foot of Picu Turbina and consisted of a gallery on three-levels. A mineral called hematite was extracted by cable and then crushed in a plant that is now used as a shelter for livestock. The material was used by a steel manufacturer called Fábrica de Mieres, and after that company was closed, it was sold as red pigment.
The festivities in Rozagás take place on 2nd October and are dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi. A traditional procession is organised where the statue of the saint is paraded outside the Church of Saint Francis and people dressed in traditional Asturian costumes play the drums, before saying mass.