Puntos de Interés
Municipality
Horna
Horna is a village in the municipality of Villarcayo. It is located in the Merindad de Castilla la Vieja and has now become a residential and industrial enclave due to its proximity to the capital of the municipality.
In the mid-19th century, the town is described in the well-known work by Pascual Madoz, Diccionario geográfico-estadístico-histórico de España y sus posesiones de Ultramar (Geographical-statistical-historical dictionary of Spain and its overseas possessions), in volume IX. This section indicates that the village was located on a plain and consisted of 28 houses, a school and the parish church of San Andrés.
Today, the 16th century church still dominates the town and those who wish to visit it will find a beautiful Renaissance altarpiece inside. Next to the church is the tower-house of the López de Cartes family, a 16th century building that belonged to the former treasurers of Las Merindades.
Railway lovers should know that in this town were located the facilities of the Santander-Mediterranean Sea railway line, a major 20th century project that was never fully completed. However, it is still possible to visit the old station and see repair shops, warehouses and an old Mikado steam locomotive.