The Ruta de Villabona brings together a rural cultural landscape, archaeological traces and historic buildings as a shared focus for a hike. It is 9.4 kilometres long, classified as easy, and starts and ends in Villabona. The railway station and Palacio complement the hiking with railway and architectural history. If you are considering Villabona as a place to stay, you can shape your visit around your own interests: the route through the landscape or the town’s cultural and historical themes.
The Ruta de Villabona: landscape and route
The route passes through a predominantly rural landscape. Traditional quintanas are scattered among meadows, cornfields and eucalyptus groves. These farmsteads consist of a dwelling, a stable and a hórreo. The route therefore showcases not only fields and groves, but also a traditional way of living and working on a farm. For travellers interested in cultural landscapes, the buildings are as much a part of the route’s character as the surrounding land.
The Ruta starts and ends in Villabona, making the town both the starting point and endpoint of the hike. The stated distance and easy rating provide a useful basis for planning, without specifying a walking time. As trail conditions can change, it is worth checking the current situation before setting out. The Ruta also allows for a return journey by RENFE train. If you plan to use this option, check the current timetable beforehand.
Archaeological traces, church and yew tree
At the beginning, the Ruta enters the Barandiallu area. Exceptional archaeological remains lie beneath the surface. Excavations uncovered traces of human settlement dated to between 50,000 and 100,000 years ago; they may have belonged to Neanderthals.
The church of Villardeveyo offers another historical trace, with its pre-Romanesque origins highlighted along the route. Near the end, the final stretch passes an ancient yew tree. The archaeological remains, church and tree offer distinct points of interest: from early traces of human settlement to architectural history and a striking feature of the cultural landscape. Those interested in these themes will find more on the Ruta than a simple description of its distance and difficulty.
Railway station and cultural heritage in Villabona
Railway history offers another perspective on Villabona. The station officially opened in 1890. It is the only railway station in Asturias whose facilities lie within the track network. This unusual layout sets it apart from other stations in Asturias and makes its design a distinctive part of local railway history.
Villabona railway station and an associated residential building are included in the Inventory of the Cultural Heritage of Asturias. The station’s historical significance therefore extends beyond its opening year: its facilities and associated building are also part of the protected cultural heritage. When planning the Ruta, you can make railway history a separate focus; it is also worth checking the current timetable for the planned RENFE return journey.
Casa Palacio and Palacio de Villabona
Casa Palacio de Villabona has Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC) protected status in Asturias. The listing is dated 29 November 1982. Precise construction dates are also documented for the Palacio de Villabona: its chapel is dedicated to the Three Wise Men, was built in 1625 and was designed by Juan de Naveda. The Palacio’s present-day main façade was built between 1661 and 1669.
The dates distinguish the chapel from the later-built present-day main façade and establish a clear chronology for the building’s history. Together with the railway station, the church of Villardeveyo and the traces in Barandiallu, they reveal a variety of historical themes: early settlement, pre-Romanesque origins, 17th-century buildings and railway history. When choosing accommodation in Villabona, you can therefore consider whether the hiking route or cultural and historical discoveries should be the focus of your stay.
For the broader travel overview: Comarca Del Nora.
