This region is a pause in the middle of the mountainous geography of Asturias: a great plain, open and close to the councils of Oviedo, Gijón and the Cuencas Mineras. But its centrality is not only geographical. It is one of the most genuine and vibrant cultural hearts of the Principality. It is also a crossroads of St. James' Way, where the landscape, agricultural activity, old mining areas and railway tradition coexist in harmony with large shopping centres and cutting-edge business areas. Although we are talking about a highly populated region, it preserves its rural and historical essence intact in its customs and in the celebration of its great pilgrimages.
Historical and cultural heritage
The Nora region is living history. Here the traces of Rome, the hustle and bustle of medieval markets, Baroque palaces and the unmistakable silhouette of the mining castles converge. A sequence of facts and memories that have reached our days in different ways, such as the archaeological excavations in Lucus Asturum (Lugo de Llanera), which take place in an area of 200,000 square metres within the well-known Roman route that connected Lugo and the interior of Asturias. Also in the municipality of Llanera, the Middle Ages come alive every year with the Exconxuraos Festival, declared to be of Tourist Interest in the Principality of Asturias. It is held on the first weekend in July and commemorates the revolt of its inhabitants in the 15th century, tired of the abuses of the bishop of Oviedo. For their defiance they were excommunicated (exconxuraos). Today, that event is relived with a medieval market, parades of banners, knightly combat and great open-air banquets.
And continuing with stories from the Middle Ages, we must mention the Jacobean tradition of this region. For pilgrims coming from the east of Asturias, Siero has always been the gateway to El Salvador de la Catedral de Oviedo, thanks to a variant of the Northern Way that turns off at Villaviciosa. From La Pola Siero, the route passes through San Martín de la Carrera and crosses the Roman bridge of Colloto on the way to the "Sancta Ovetensis". Once the vow has been fulfilled, the walkers of yesteryear, and those of today, continue along the Primitive Way to Santiago or link up again with the Coastal Way, crossing from south to north the council of Llanera, with an obligatory stop at the Romanesque church of Santiago de Arlós - one of the most outstanding examples of Asturian rural Romanesque -, and the main church in the area, together with the church of San Esteban de Aramil, in the neighbouring council of Siero.
The entire region offers a splendid heritage of medieval manor houses and palaces, reflecting an era dominated by the rural nobility. Most of these buildings are in private hands, and some of them open their doors as hotel complexes. Of particular note are San Cucao Castle, Villabona Palace and Villanueva Palace in Llanera; the palaces of Miraflores and El Rebollín, in Noreña, and the palaces of Meres, Celles and Valdesoto(opens in a new tab), in Siero.
As far as livestock tradition is concerned, the market in La Pola Siero is one of the oldest in Spain. It was one of the great economic centres of the late Middle Ages in Asturias, when the price of a cow could decide the future of an entire family. The livestock fair has survived to the present day and is still one of the most important in Europe.
On the other hand, the town of Valdesoto is one of the great cultural focal points of the region, as it keeps alive ancestral traditions such as the Sidros, carnival figures that are linked to the ancient winter masquerades, one of the most authentic ethnographic expressions of Asturias. It also hosts Les Carroces de Valdesoto, a Festival of Tourist Interest of the Principality in which stages on wheels travel around the village like authentic travelling theatres, bringing to life stories and characters represented with great creativity and participation of the local people.
The town of Noreña - town, county and council - (three in one), combines devotion and festivity in the Ecce Homo, celebrated in mid-September. Hundreds of pilgrims flock to the hermitage of the same name to take part in one of the most solemn processions in Asturias.
The region also preserves curious traditions, such as the Fiesta de los Huevos Pintos, declared to be of Tourist Interest in the Principality. This custom of decorating eggs at Easter, which is deeply rooted in Siero, may have arrived with the Central European miners who settled in the area. Because this council (often overshadowed by the large basins of the Nalón and Caudal rivers) has an important mining past, especially in Lieres and Carbayín. The arrival of the train in 1856, with the Langreo line, helped to connect this area with industrial Asturias. Proof of this is that the town of El Berrón is still an important railway junction in Asturias.
Natural areas and outdoor activities
The river Nora (a tributary of the Nalón) meanders peacefully through alder groves, willows and meadows, giving its name to this region and offering a host of river routes. Such as the 10-kilometre circular route through the enclaves of Llanera, among orchards, Asturian quintanas and recreational areas, with no shortage of old mills, dams and emblazoned mansions. On the other hand, from La Pola Siero railway station to Lieres, you can follow the course of the river for about 8 km. For those looking for a short walk, the stretch between the Roman bridge of Colloto and the Palace of Granda, just over a kilometre long, is ideal. Also highly recommended is the Ruta de los Covarones del río Tuernes, in Llanera: a 2.5 km family trail (round trip), which runs through a karst landscape with caves, arches and natural tunnels.
Although the region lacks great peaks, it does offer short ascents to panoramic summits: Picu Celles ( 393 m), overlooking Llanera, Oviedo and with views of the Aramo mountain range; or Peña Careses (563 m), accessible by the PR AS-216 path. A family option is the Vega de Poja - Picu Castiellu route (437 m), 5 kilometres round trip through meadows, chestnut and oak woods.
For a hike with history, the Jovellanos Mining Route (PR AS-174) recalls the journey on horseback made by the enlightened man from Gijón in 1790, to visit the mines of Carbayín. The circular route, 24 kilometres long, goes through a rural area that was the cradle of Asturian mining activity since the 18th century. Along the way, Carbayín Bajo stands out, with its Monumento al Minero (Monument to the Miner) and the Pumarabule shaft, whose chimney and small castle, dating from 1917, are included in the Asturias Cultural Heritage Inventory. The path then runs through forests, mining ruins and the mountain range that separates Bimenes and Siero, offering beautiful panoramic views. In the final stretch, the landscape softens between orchards and manor houses, until we return to the surroundings of the Palace of Valdesoto, from where we had started.
However, the Nora region, with its combination of gentle plains, green meadows and historic paths, is not only ideal for hiking without excesses, but practically any of its itineraries are possible and feasible by bicycle (More info: cycle touring in the Nora region).
For lovers of the green, the La Morgal golf course covers more than 260,000 m², and is home to the largest practice area in the whole of Asturias, where you can get started in this sport. Also in Llanera is the sanctuary of the fastest Asturian of all time: the Fernando Alonso Museum and Circuit. Here his history is carefully preserved: the kart with which he started it all, some of his Formula 1 cars, helmets, trophies, racing overalls, etc. And if you are a true motor and speed lover, you can put your driving skills to the test by renting a real racing kart, driving on the circuit that Alonso himself designed. A very serious track, approved for racing.
If after so much activity we still feel like getting our feet off the ground, we can also fly - literally - at La Morgal aerodrome. We have the option of hiring informative flights in light aircraft, taking in aerial views of the most Asturian landscapes imaginable. For the more daring, there is even the possibility of an aerial baptism: to go up with an instructor and, for a while, take the controls.
Practical information for visitors
It is very easy to end up in this region because all roads lead to it. Ten minutes from Oviedo/Uviéu, Gijón/Xixón or the mining basins, it is perfectly integrated in the heart of the Asturian metropolitan area. By car, train or bus, access is easy. The A-66 and AS-II roads cross it, and the railway stations and stops along its main towns - Colloto, Lugones, Noreña, Lugo de Llanera, El Berrón or La Pola Siero - allow you to get to know it in depth without a car.
It has more than 70,000 inhabitants and is one of the busiest and busiest areas in Asturias. In economic terms, it is one of the most thriving areas in the region, thanks to its powerful industrial centres: Asipo, Silvota, Bobes and the Llanera Technology Park. A neuralgic point for the general public is Parque Principado: the largest shopping and leisure area in the whole autonomous community, with more than 75,000 m² of surface area. It is a good refuge for rainy days due to its numerous shops, cinemas, amusement arcades and franchised restaurants.
But the Nora region is also one of the green souls of Asturias. It is beautiful and natural; it produces, harvests, cultivates good neighbourliness, cures cured meats and, above all, it lives its Asturianism to the full in a calendar marked by irresistible events. The Carmín de La Pola, celebrated on the Monday following the 16th of July - the day of the Virgin of Carmen - is not a festival, it is an institution. The Polesos, a people of contagious joy and a tuneful throat, gather in peñas and, to the sound of the charangas, march singing from the historic square of Les Campes to the prau de la fiesta. They wear white, with the unmistakable blue neckerchief around their necks. Bagpipes everywhere, a Danza Prima that unites generations, cider that flows generously, tortillas, and the collective spirit of the picnic turns the day into a profoundly Asturian celebration, justly known as"the great pilgrimage of Asturias".
At the beginning of December, Noreña turns its famous tradition of cooking tripe (small and somewhat spicy) into a great celebration: the Fiesta de los Callos. Likewise, on the Monday closest to 25 April (San Marcos), this town also hosts the Picadillo and El Sabadiego Festival, a Festival of Tourist Interest in the Principality of Asturias. Picadillo, a tasty mixture of lean pork seasoned with paprika, garlic and salt, is served fried with tortos or potatoes, while Sabadiego is a sausage exclusive to Noreña, made with pork, black pudding and spices. The Order of Sabadiego, created in its honour, is an established gastronomic brotherhood that has spread the town's sausage-making tradition throughout Spain. It is therefore not surprising that in this town we come across the "Monument to the gochu" (pig), a sculpture that honours him as the patriarch of one of the main meat industries in Asturias.
In addition to sausages and gochu meats, there are good vegetables, cheeses with character such as Varé, veal for championship cachopos and fabes (beans) from the farm of Argüelles - a town in Sierras with a great tradition in their cultivation. Add casadielles or frixuelos as a sweet finishing touch, and you get a clear and tasty recipe book of the region. All of this must be washed down, of course, with local cider, as Siero is the third largest council in Asturias in terms of the number of llagares (cider cellars), especially in the parish of Tiñana. Some of these cider cellars offer espichas, guided tours or tastings, and many have their own restaurants attached to their facilities. Throughout the region there are many restaurants that use the name "llagar" to make their culinary intentions clear. From Bobes to Colloto, via Granda, Argüelles, Noreña, Lieres, Hevia, Viella, La Fresneda, Pruvia, Posada de Llanera, La Pola Siero and Lugones, these 'llagares' are genuine institutions. They are usually spacious, with rustic lounges, generous terraces and good tables open to the Asturian greenery.
If you are travelling with children, the region offers two ideal proposals: the Tuernes Zoo, with more than 200 animals of 23 species, including dromedaries, buffaloes and alpacas; and the El Taller de Títeres museum, which combines an interactive workshop and an exhibition with pieces from all over the world.
La Pola Siero (administrative capital and head of the region) and Lugones (the most populated town with nearly 15,000 inhabitants) are the towns that most boost the cultural offer in the area. La Pola thanks to its modern Theatre-Auditorium, and Lugones with the extensive agenda promoted by its popular Integrated Multi-purpose Centre.
There are numerous accommodation options in the region, ranging from hotels in sober palaces and medieval mansions, to urban lodgings of all kinds, or a wide network of rural houses in typical Asturian dwellings.
The Nora region is a territory with a great quality of life, affable, open and festive, where good neighbourliness and hospitality are always at the forefront. Everything here, in a natural and generous way, smells of good life.
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Map
What to see
- Siero Minero and Jovellanos Mining Route.
- Livestock market.
- Festivals of Tourist Interest(Huevos Pintos, El Carmín).
- Historic Centre of Noreña, festivities and activities of tourist interest(Picadillo and Sabadiego Festivities).
- Palacios de Llanera.
- Fernando Alonso Circuit and La Morgal.