Puntos de Interés
Municipality
Arangas
Arangas is a locality within the municipality of Cabrales and the parish of Arenas. It is located in an extraordinary setting with views of the Picos de Europa and the Sierra del Cuera, making the village outstanding because of its beautiful alpine surroundings.
As well as its incredible views, Arangas has preserved its valuable architectural and cultural heritage. One example is the Navariego Palace, built in elaborate Renaissance-style architecture. It was built in the 17th century in the highest part of the village, and can now be accessed using the AS-345 road. Its floor plan is rectangular and it has two storeys. Two shields belonging to the Mier and Cossio families, who were powerful in the are, are prominent on the second floor.
This building is seamlessly integrated into the landscape, and is a triumph of architecture if we consider the challenging geographic conditions, construction difficulties, and the outstanding final result that was achieved. It is recognised as one of the finest examples of civil architecture in Arangas, and it has earned its place in the Cultural Inventory of Asturias.
Another very important feature in the village is the Church of Saint Paul, which was built between 1570 and 1590 by Juan Villar de Mier. It was expanded subsequently when the bell tower was added, and restorations were carried out. This Gothic-style building is built on a rectangular floor plan with a tower on its west side. The square-shaped apse contains the sacristy, and on its southern side, we find one of the church’s most distinctive elements, an ogival window that bathes the interior in natural daylight. The church also contains other features such as a fresco, details like the round arch at the entrance, or the coat of arms engraved with the arms of the Mier family.
We should also mention a much-loved village feature that stands outside the church. This is a centuries-old yew tree that is more than 500 years old, and is one of the oldest in Asturias. It has an imposing 5.15 metre trunk and it is a symbol of Arangas. There are many legends about this tree, such as the mysticism of the place where it stands, which was considered a sacred place by the Celts, or that the last act committed by many tribes before being captured by the Romans was to eat the fruit of the tree so that they would die.
Nearby we find well-preserved ancient mediaeval buildings alongside the Fountain of the Infantas, which is also the subject of myth and legend.
We must also mention two more items in the Inventory of the Cultural Heritage of Asturias. These are the Casona del Santón and the School of Arangas.
The Casona del Santón is built in the popular high mountain style, and features popular architectural elements like a wooden corridor mixed with more formal elements, such as the coat of arms divided into quarters that is displayed on its façade. Although the last restoration was done in the 18th century, it is currently in a state of abandonment.
The Arangas school, with its sturdy walls, is an example of the traditional local architecture of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Set in the natural landscape of Arangas, there is a cluster of very interesting caves like the Cueva de los Canes, Arangas, or the Cueva del Tíu Oyines. These caves contain archaeological sites from the Upper Palaeolithic where burials and engravings were found.
Nearby, just under the Picu Pierzu, is the outstanding Arangas sheep enclosure. This magnificent place sits between mountains and there are two small lagoons. These abandoned constructions are slowly falling to pieces. There are also remains of an ancient Roman road that connected Colláu LLomena with Sellaño. A great place to practice canyoning is the Foz de Arangas, which is a limestone canyon that does not usually carry a heavy volume of water, and where visitors can slide down the slopes and enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings.
The festivals of Arangas are celebrated in honour of Saint Peter on 1st August with traditional bagpipe music. The traditional offering of the ramu (bouquet of flowers) takes place, mass is said, there is a procession, and the event concludes with the auction of the loaves and a fantastic open-air dance.