This is Valdesoto, Exemplary Town of Asturias 2025

In the heart of Asturias beats a corner that has managed to maintain its essence over the centuries. Valdesoto, in the council of Siero, has been recognised as an Exemplary Town of Asturias 2025, an award that rewards neighbourhood unity, the defence of heritage and the constant effort to keep traditions alive. It is not just a recognition, but a tribute to the way in which its inhabitants have managed to combine past and present to build a sustainable future.

As the Princess of Asturias Foundation itself, which awards this prestigious distinction, comments, "Valdesoto is a parish in the council of Siero comprising fourteen population centres, with eighteen hundred residents traditionally dedicated to the countryside, mining, industry and services. Its capacity to unite to promote the development of the parish is reflected in some thirty associations dedicated to leisure, culture, tradition, folklore, gastronomy, sport and the environment. The residents of Valdesoto have been able to recover their traditions and preserve their artistic and cultural heritage".

Strolling through Valdesoto is to find the mark of history on every corner. Its palaces and ancestral homes speak of noble lineages and the importance of the area over time. The rural chapels and churches, many of them located in beautiful spots, preserve centuries-old devotions. And, as in every Asturian landscape with roots, the hórreos and paneras (raised granaries) are symbols of identity, reminding us of the importance of peasant life and agricultural tradition.

Valdesoto is full of all kinds of old buildings that are well preserved or being restored, such as the palace of the Carreño family, the palace of the Camino family and the chapel of San Juan Evangelista, the mansion of Leceñes, the chapel of the Santos Reyes, the chapel of San Agustín de Castiello and the palace of El Valle, among other buildings. In addition, there are more than a hundred hórreos (raised granaries) and more than 50 bread baskets that are still in good condition.

Among the best preserved buildings is the palace of the Marquis of Canillejas - also known as the palace of the Carreño family - built in the 18th century in austere and simple lines (the ornamentation dates from after its construction), and is articulated around a central square-shaped courtyard surrounded by a wall. The historic gardens - covering approximately 70,000 square metres - were designed at the end of the 19th century by a French landscape designer and are influenced by the gardens of Versailles, with their elegant geometric forms, the statuary gallery, the steps, the stone columns, the flowerbeds, the arbours and the belvedere. Undoubtedly, these gardens are among the best examples of French gardening in Asturias and are a perfect place for a quiet stroll or a celebration.

It is not the only palace in the parish; the Casa de las Justicias, a rectangular building surrounded by an imposing stone wall that houses a Baroque chapel with a beautiful altarpiece carved in wood, also stands out.

As a curious fact and exponent of the vocation of the inhabitants of Valdesoto to recover and preserve the collective memory, Lluques Díaz, a local resident, has recently completed the recovery and restoration of a historic granary from 1760 that belonged to the Marquis of Santa Cruz, a dream come true and a laborious process that has taken him more than a year and a half, and which today forms part of this recovered heritage of which the villagers are proud.

One of the most characteristic features of the Valdesoto neighbourhood community is its vocation for festivals and its sense of humour. This unique collective personality makes its festivals and celebrations very special and with a marked vocation for the recovery of ancestral traditions.

One of the highlights of the Fiestas de San Félix is the Desfile de les carroces, which has been held for more than half a century on the Monday after the second Sunday in August, the big day of the fiestas, and which has been declared a Fiesta of Tourist Interest in Asturias. The parade, in which different neighbourhood clubs take part and which have made their own floats, is an exaltation of the customs and traditions of rural Asturias, and at the different stops made by the floats there are theatrical performances of the theme prepared by each club. Due to its cultural attraction, it has been declared a Festival of Tourist Interest of the Principality of Asturias. During the festivities, the traditional gastronomy and the renowned wood crafts market, which has been organised annually since 1998 and brings together craftsmen from all over Asturias, are not to be missed either.

Another of the ancestral and striking traditions recovered in Valdesoto are the Sidros and Comedies. The Sidros are a winter masquerade, a popular celebration that fuses ancient rites and theatre. The Sidros are masked characters dressed in white with sheepskins, wearing sashes and cowbells, and dancing and jumping with the help of a large stick, to announce the arrival of the Comedy and maintain order. The Comedia, on the other hand, is a theatrical performance with fixed characters (such as the old man, the old woman, the devil, etc.), who satirically comment on the events of the past year, and which is preceded by the Sidros. The comedy is written and performed in Asturian.

They have also revitalised the traditional Foguera de San Xuan (Bonfire of San Xuan) in recent years.

The surroundings of Valdesoto are a real treat for the senses. Between green valleys, meadows and native forests, there are hiking routes ideal for lovers of nature and tranquillity. Walking through its surroundings is to discover a genuine Asturias, where time seems to stand still and where the landscape becomes the best companion.

So in Valdesoto you can enjoy both its heritage and the nature that surrounds it and invites you to relax. The Senda de Valdesoto is a certified trail (short route) that starts at the parish church of San Félix with two circular, well-signposted, low-difficulty routes that allow you to discover its natural environment and heritage, especially the one that runs along the eastern section, which links some of its most emblematic monuments, while the one that runs along the west section runs through groves and rural paths with views of the mountain range.

Beyond its beauty and history, Valdesoto stands out for something even more valuable: the strength of its community. The locals have known how to work together, protect their legacy and pass on to the new generations a deep love for their roots. This union, together with the balanced mix of tradition, culture and nature, makes Valdesoto a special place, an example of how a small village can represent the best of the Asturian spirit. Associations in Valdesoto date back to the beginning of the 20th century, and have served as a driving force to improve the quality of life of its neighbours.

It is precisely a collective and constant effort that has led them to be recognised as an Exemplary Town of Asturias, after 21 years of uninterrupted candidacy.

Valdesoto is not only a place to visit, but also to feel and learn. In every corner you can breathe the passion of its people to keep its history alive, while looking to the future.