Millara lies on the foothills of the Sierra de Courío. Its built heritage and the gold mining in the surrounding area offer two distinct ways to explore the history of the area. For travellers who want to include regional culture, alongside the landscape, in their choice of stay, this combination offers a clear thematic starting point.

Traditional Architecture and Historical Traces

An official inventory of architectural forms from 2005 lists manor houses in Millara. Two large paneras with a caramanchón illustrate the functional development of the traditional Asturian grain store. This offers an opportunity to compare manor houses with storage architecture. With the paneras in particular, their functional development is just as important to the subject as their architectural form.

The El Llano del Muñón tumulus lies in the parish of Millara. The parish church of Santa María is associated with either Millara or Miera in Salas. Thus, archaeological traces and another religious building add distinct historical points of reference to the built heritage. The tumulus and church broaden the picture beyond the storage and manor-house architecture, without implying that these different remains tell the same story.

Gold Mining in the Surrounding Area

The main gold-mining areas are around Villaverde, El Pontigo, Antoñana, Millara and Alto de la Brueba. These are several separate areas, not a single site. There are also remains of Roman gold mining in the area around Millara. The places mentioned locate the gold-mining story across several parts of the region, rather than at a single point.

The Antoñana and Alto de la Brueba mining complexes are recommended nearby for visits because of their monumental remains and convenient access. Check access conditions before setting out. This helps distinguish these recommended destinations from the other traces of gold mining when planning your visit.

Mining methods are also part of the history. Gold-mining operations in the deposits around Millara used water and fire in alternation. Channels along the slopes carried water from peaks and mountain saddles to basins dug above the mining face. The description therefore covers both the alternating use of these methods and the flow of water from higher points to the basins above the mining face.

A Circular Route as Another Perspective

A route description uploaded in 2020 recounts a circular route between Millara and Alto la Brueba; a Roman mine is also part of the route. It also passes remains of trenches. The circular route offers a different perspective from the recommended mining complexes: it describes a route linking two places and includes other historical traces. When choosing, you can therefore distinguish between individual sites to visit and a described circular route. Check current trail conditions before setting out.

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