The Cares River flows through a narrow and deep valley in the Picos de Europa Western Massif, forming limestone walls and a turbulent landscape that has characterized the region’s geography for centuries. Its waterways condition the layout of roads and villages, creating a natural environment of great ecological and geographical relevance in Asturias.
The famous Ruta del Cares, which runs between Asturias and Leon, takes advantage of the layout of the valley to connect both regions through paths and roads that climb along the river. This corridor allows us to observe the verticality of the walls and the continuity of the mountainous terrain, showing how human activities adapt to rugged terrain without changing its natural shape.
Between the canyon walls are small rural centers that sustain mountain life. Accessed by trails along the hillsides, these towns preserve livestock activities and the traditional structure of the area, allowing visitors to understand how geography has influenced the history, economy, and way of life of their inhabitants.
The road connecting Oseño and the Cares Valley
Oseño is a small town with a population of less than 60 people located approximately 540 meters above sea level in Peñamerera Alta. The town is located at the end of an approximately 4-kilometre road that starts from the main road between Arenas de Cabrales and Panes and follows the slope next to the Cares River Valley. This path allows residents and visitors to reach the town without taking the path from the valley.
The hamlet of Oseño is spread out over a hill, with the Parish Church of San Juan towering over the other houses. The church has preserved a nave with a wooden roof and a square-headed barrel vault. According to a preserved inscription, the bell tower was built in 1787, but it was destroyed during the Civil War. Next to the church is a two-century-old yew tree that forms part of the town’s landscape and natural heritage.
The route along the road follows the natural undulations of the hillsides, showing the curves and slopes characteristic of the narrow valleys next to the limestone walls of the western massif of Picos de Europa. From the road you can see the Kares River and the verticality of the gorge, which explains the construction decisions and road layout. This road connects Oseño with the rest of the valley, allowing the transportation of products and facilitating the daily life of residents.
Oseño has preserved its livestock tradition, including one of its most famous products, the picon cheese, and the roads leaving the town lead to sheepfolds (high pastures where shepherds gather their livestock) and other pastures that have been used for centuries, demonstrating the continuation of this activity in the mountains. Although this road is short, it plays a fundamental role in guaranteeing access to this enclave and at the same time preserving its rural and isolated character.
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