La Pornacal, the largest and best-preserved braña in Somiedo, offers a particularly vivid glimpse of Villar De Vildas’s traditional architecture. The village’s brañas contain around 65 well-preserved teito buildings with broom-thatched roofs; their upkeep is supported by local residents. La Pornacal has around 33 teitos, the largest concentration of these huts in the park. A total of 370 teitos have been recorded in the park.
Brañas and Traditional Architecture
On the way to La Pornacal, Vildéu is the first braña, about one kilometer after setting out. The older Braña de los Cuartos, also called Braña Viecha or Braña Vieja, is another notable stop in the local cultural landscape. It is older than La Pornacal and includes round huts with stone-slab roofs, known as corros. From Braña de los Cuartos, the view stretches across the Cereizales Valley to the Leonese valleys of Laciana beyond.
Villar De Vildas preserves remarkable traditional architecture and received the Pueblo Ejemplar de Asturias award in 2004. Another archaeological feature is El Cueto Tablao, a fortified site in the parish of Villar De Vildas. The brañas, their different building styles, and the award offer distinct insights into the village’s cultural character.
Hiking Routes and How They Differ
The Pigüeña Valley route starts in Villar De Vildas and climbs through the valley to the Braña de La Pornacal. It is rated moderate, covers seven kilometers with 450 meters of elevation gain, and has a stated duration of two hours and 30 minutes. Along the way, the trail crosses the Pigüeña River over a stone bridge and then passes through riverside woodland and hay meadows. There is a natural spring in the center of La Pornacal where you can refresh yourself during the hike.
The PR.AS-14 offers a longer route: this moderate hike covers 13 kilometers from La Peral to Villar De Vildas, passing Braña los Cuartos and La Pornacal. It is recommended that you leave your vehicle in Villar De Vildas and arrange transport to the starting point in La Peral, as the route is too long to do there and back. Transport availability may vary, so plan this part in advance. By comparison, the seven-kilometer Pigüeña Valley route starts in the village and climbs to La Pornacal. Seasonal conditions may affect whether a route can be completed as described.
Winter Hike and Scenery
For a winter hike, the moderate snowshoe route from Villar De Vildas to Braña Viecha is another option. It starts at the village parking area, covers 6.5 kilometers each way, and takes three hours and 45 minutes. Snow, trail conditions, and winter parking conditions may affect your plans; check local conditions before setting out.
There are also scenic sights along the routes described here. About two kilometers beyond La Pornacal, a bridge on the route offers a view of the Cascada de Corralón on the opposite side of the valley. The area around Villar De Vildas includes some particularly protected deciduous woodland; this protection is mainly due to a significant bear population.
Accommodation and Trip Planning
If you’re looking for a hotel for a stay in Villar De Vildas, it helps to plan your hike at the same time: the trails vary in length, elevation gain, starting point, and season. For the PR.AS-14, arranged transport to the starting point is part of the plan; the Pigüeña Valley route, by contrast, starts in the village. In winter, there is also the snowshoe route and the changing snow and trail conditions. This way, you can choose your accommodation and plan your day around the hike you actually want to do.
Discover more destinations: Perlunes, Castañedo de Miranda, Arrojo, Valle De Lago, Leiguarda, Villamarín, Palacio, San Martín
For the wider travel overview: Camín Real De La Mesa.
