The Senda del Oso ends in Bárzana; the official cycling route from Oviedo via this trail also ends here. At the same time, a GR hiking route leads from Bárzana to the Senda del Oso. This means the town can be seen from two different perspectives: as the destination of a cycling route and as the starting point of a hiking connection. Markets and cultural topics complement these different links to the trails.
The Senda del Oso and its trail connections
Following the Quirós River, the Senda del Oso traces the former route of the mining railway. It passes through the Cuevafurada Gorge and runs partly through the Las Ubiñas-La Mesa Natural Park and Biosphere Reserve, as well as the Caldoveiro SCI Natura 2000 site. Along the way, the route passes through villages such as Veiga and San Salvaor before reaching Bárzana. This combination of former railway line, river course, gorge and settlements gives the trail its specific landscape and historical context.
In the gorge area, the Senda runs along the right-hand side and crosses it over a wooden bridge beyond the recreation area and the landing stage. The Senda del Oso and the Valdemurio canoe launch are also near the Las Agüeras recreation area. The directions are useful for planning: the cycling route from Oviedo ends in Bárzana, while the GR hiking route leads from Bárzana to the Senda.
History and culture in Quirós
A description of Bárzana dating from around 1800 mentions a tall, castle-like tower that served as a prison. No physical remains of this tower have survived. The Torre de Bárzana is also listed in the Principality of Asturias’s cultural heritage inventory: it is recorded under code IPCA-YA-53-008, with 28 January 2014 given as the date of entry. A historical description and a later inventory entry thus stand side by side, without implying that a tower has survived.
The Quirós Ethnographic Museum offers a different perspective on local history. It presents the traditional customs of the people of Quirós and features a reconstruction of a traditional house from Quirós. The municipal tourist information office is also located in the museum, in La Fábrica, on Carretera General AS 229, 33117 Quirós. The museum and the route landscape focus on different things: here, customs and housebuilding; there, the former mining railway and the gorge.
Markets and event dates
The Mercáu Quirosano takes place annually in Bárzana on the weekend closest to 1 May. The 2026 edition, held on 1 and 2 May, featured handcrafted products, traditional craft workshops, street theatre and activities for children. These programme details refer to the 2026 edition. The annual timing is a useful guide; if you plan to attend a particular edition, check its specific dates.
Events featuring various livestock take place annually at Bárzana’s livestock market grounds, especially events involving cattle and horses. Check the individual dates before your trip. Elsewhere in the Quirós area, the Fiesta del Corderu at Prau Llagüezos is also known as an event of tourist interest. Its dates vary from year to year. These recurring events therefore differ not only in theme but also in how they are scheduled: the Mercáu is tied to the weekend near 1 May, while the dates of the other events should be checked separately.
Discover more destinations: Cienfuegos.
Return to the main travel overview: Quirós.
