Free walking tours in Villamanín and what to see

Must-sees

Villamanín is the main village of a mountain municipality in northern León province, in the upper valley of the river Bernesga and next to the Pajares pass, the historic route between the plateau and Asturias. Its charm lies more in the whole than in any single monument: small stone villages, manor houses with coats of arms, a medieval bridge over the Bernesga and meadows surrounded by mountains, with the La Tercia and Arbas areas around it.

The most important visit is in Arbas del Puerto, almost at the top of the pass. There stands the collegiate church of Santa María de Arbas, a late Romanesque sandstone church that began as part of a hospital for travellers crossing the mountains. The municipality also has small ethnographic museums showing traditional life in these valleys, and plenty of walking routes through mountains and high pastures, of very different levels.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no regular free walking tours or guided visits in Villamanín. Most people explore on their own and ask at the town hall how to see inside the collegiate church of Arbas. In summer it is a good starting point for hiking in the León mountains. If you fancy a guided tour, the city of León, about forty minutes away by car, has free walking tours and guided visits of its old town, the cathedral and San Isidoro.

How long to spend

Allow half a day for Villamanín and its surroundings: a stroll around the village, the drive up to Arbas del Puerto to see the collegiate church and a stop or two in the valley villages. If you come to walk, give it a full day and choose one of the municipality's mountain routes. Bear in mind that snow is frequent around the pass in winter, so check the road conditions before driving up.

Where to stay

Villamanín and nearby villages have rural houses and some simple places to stay, ideal if you want peace and mountains. La Pola de Gordón, down the valley, has a little more choice. If you prefer a base with more services to combine mountains and city, León is close by motorway and the day trip from there is easy.