Under the guise of discovering the sculptures one by one, we ventured along a path flanked by chestnut, hazel, ash, birch, and yew trees—some of them large and ancient, like the thousand-year-old yew of La Malatería. There are stretches where we could enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the Ardisana Valley and the Cuera mountain range . Other points of interest include the granaries of Riucaliente, and, in Ardisana itself, the Church of Santa Eulalia (13th-18th centuries), the Posada house, the Corajarrieru manor house (17th century), and the Arnero manor house (16th century).
This is an ideal route for the whole family , where children enjoy it doubly, and which does not involve great elevation changes or risks of any kind; a magnificent opportunity to delve into the most native nature and feel its true enchantment with the additional explanations of the mythology, which ultimately perfectly describe the ancestral sense of the landscape of the Principality.
“I am the Nuberu. I command the rain and the winds. Lightning is my whip and thunder my voice. Do you want to reach the end of your journey dry? Then respect nature, or I will be angry.” That is what the Nuberu , king of the rains and storms, tells us when he crosses our path, haughty and perhaps grumpy. But there is much more: a gathering of mischievous goblins ; the Sumiciu , who advises us to check our pockets in case we are missing something; the man with the sack , a mythical character who frightens children; the Pataricu , a mythological sea giant, a “child-eater” with only one eye and a relative of Polyphemus; the Mischievous Diañu , who can change shape at will; the Cuélebre , a dragon guarding treasures and princesses; the Busgosu , guardian of the forests; the washerwoman , the chestnut seller , etc.
The enchantment approaches the fantastic world of the animated forest and the Santa Compaña , that procession of figures with shrouds, because halfway along we stumbled upon the Cruz de los Garabiales, from 1761, where the funeral processions that went up from the valley to the cemetery of Villanueva stopped.
How many kilometers is the Camín Encantáu route?
The El Camín Encantáu route is a circular trail. Its nine kilometers pass through nine villages . Hiking the route will take visitors approximately three hours. Those who prefer not to walk and opt for a car can take the road connecting the villages and simply follow the path between Ardisana and Riucaliente, which takes about thirty minutes.
Where does the Camín Encantáu begin?
If you decide to hike the entire route, the trail that starts in the village of La Venta winds through traditional paths, forests, and meadows and pastures, passing through the villages of La Venta, Gomezán, Malatería, Palaciu, Ardisana, and Riucaliente. It takes about three hours to reach this point. The return journey from Riucaliente to La Venta can be made by road. To get to La Venta, start from the town of Posada de Llanes and take the road to Cabrales via Turanzas, Vibañu, Riofrío, and Puente Nuevo; at Casa Morán, turn off towards La Venta – Ardisana.
Text: © Ramón Molleda for asturias.com
