Culture

Viewpoint Castillo de Piñolo (Piñolo Castle)

Perched atop a hill at the northern terminus of the Sierra de Santa Isabel, overlooking the lush meadows traversed by the Narcea River below, once stood the medieval stronghold of Piñolo. Sadly, this castle has succumbed to the passage of time, and today, only a fragmentary segment of its original walls remains. The precise circumstances of its demise remain unclear—whether it succumbed to the forces of nature or was intentionally dismantled during the remodeling of the Monastery of San Juan de Corias in order to use the slate masonry of the castle, or a combination of both.

The Castle of Piñolo was built around the mid-11th century under the patronage of Count Don Piñolo and his wife, who were also benefactors of the Monastery of Corias, and encompassed a modest 1600 square meters. Commanding a strategic position, it asserted control over the valley lands upon which it stood and monitored the ancient Roman road, known as the Camino Real de Leitariegos (Royal Road to Leitariegos). Unlike buildings designed primarily for defense, this military structure served more for territorial control and oversight of local communities than as a defense against invading armies, given the distant borders with the Taifa kingdoms in the south of Asturias.

Historical records indicate that the castle's defenders drew sustenance from the Carouso stream that flowed down the mountainside and a spring near the Camino Real, known as the Countess' Spring, in honour of Aldonza Muñiz, the wife of Count Piñolo Jiménez. Within its walls, iron weaponry and armour were forged, evidenced by the discovery of slag from this material—abundant in the Asturian mountains—among the castle's remnants.

Today, the castle site beckons visitors and onlookers seeking to enjoy panoramic views, as the place has been transformed into a viewpoint known locally as El Piñolo. This point offers a privileged perspective of the towns of Courias, Cangas del Narcea, and a portion of the Sierra del Pando.