Puente Pumar: Manor Houses and Local History

Puente Pumar preserves one of the best-preserved village centres in Polaciones and the valley’s most complete ensemble of civil architecture. The village lies at the upper end of the Embalse de la Cohilla reservoir. Visitors looking to shape their stay around architectural history and local sights will find plenty to explore here: the church, several manor houses, traditional homes and a historic bridge.

Church and Manor Houses

The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Natividad was rebuilt between 1764 and 1781 over the ruins of the original church. Its floor plan is in the shape of a Latin cross, with a semicircular vault above the crossing. The church combines a clearly defined layout with a striking architectural feature above the crossing.

Behind the church stands the Casa del Arzobispo, also known as Casa de la Coronela. The manor house dates from the 18th century. Its ashlar façade has three round arches on the ground floor, with three so-called balcony windows above. The restored building serves as the visitor centre for the Ecomuseo Saja-Nansa. Check the visitor and opening arrangements before making the centre a fixed part of your itinerary.

The Casa de los Coroneles Superior is a large 18th-century manor house. It has agricultural outbuildings and two monumental entrance gates. Below it lies the Casa de los Coroneles Intermedia, also an 18th-century manor house. Its two simple porticoes with basket-handle arches create a different architectural accent from the monumental gates of the upper house.

Traditional homes also contribute to the village’s architectural character: they combine limestone with oak or chestnut wood and feature distinctive solanas (open galleries). This makes it possible to appreciate the larger manor houses alongside traditional building styles without conflating the different types of buildings.

Bridge, Local History and Routes

The Fábrica de luz de Puente Pumar tells another part of the local story. It was a mill until 1930, after which it was used to generate electricity for Puente Pumar and other villages in Polaciones. This sequence of uses makes the transition from mill to power-generating facility clear.

The historic Puente Pumar bridge spans the Collavín stream and carries the CA-862 road between La Laguna and Uznayo. It was probably built of stone in the 18th century. The historic Camino del Cantábrico a Castilla also crosses the old stone bridge and leaves Puente Pumar heading south towards Lombraña and Tresabuela. Surface and route conditions can change; check them before setting off.

Two other routes start in La Laguna: both Stage 01 of the «Los Pueblos de Polaciones» route and the Camino del Potro begin there. La Laguna is about 500 metres from Puente Pumar. Check the route and trail markings before setting off. These starting points offer practical guidance for planning, while the historic bridge and manor houses shape a visit to the village.

Discover more destinations: Cuchia, Corvera, Rábago, Somahoz, Somaniezo, Viérnoles, Roiz, Borleña.

For the broader travel overview: Cantabria.