Enterrías: Rural Heritage in Monterón

The history of Enterrías connects rural culture with specific features of the landscape. Casa de las Doñas focuses on the way of life in Liébana; El Salvador and the former Chapel of San Pedro represent different architectural landmarks. The river, an oak grove, and two walking routes complete this picture.

Casa de las Doñas: Farmhouse and Way of Life

The Museo Casa de las Doñas in Enterrías is an ethnographic complex that depicts life in Liébana at the end of the 19th century. The Casa is also an example of the typical Liébana farmhouse, built from local stone and wood. The exhibition’s subject and the building’s design thus sit side by side: the display focuses on life in the region, while the farmhouse model reflects local building methods and the materials used.

The guided tour shows restored rooms from a former farmhouse shop, with original elements from the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. Two different time periods should be distinguished: the way of life depicted is that of Liébana at the end of the 19th century; the original elements also date from the first half of the following century. This comparison places the rooms in both an ethnographic and an architectural context.

Architectural Landmarks at El Salvador and San Pedro

Two pre-Romanesque lattice screens have been preserved in the parish church of El Salvador de Enterrías. The better-preserved one is now located on the front of the main altar. The two screens provide a tangible connection to pre-Romanesque architecture; the location of the better-preserved piece is also specified.

The former Chapel of San Pedro, at Matorrera de San Pedro, is also part of the area’s history. It was approximately nine meters long and ten meters wide. The chapel is not independently accessible; its dimensions describe a former structure, not a current visitor attraction.

Monterón, Forest, and Walking Routes

The Monterón River flows right past Enterrías. The Matorrera de San Pedro, an oak grove with hazel bushes, lies along the river. This provides two distinct connections to the landscape: the river’s course past the village and the vegetation of the woodland by the water.

The route descriptions also emphasize different things. The Pico Jano route passes the Enterrías reservoir; the short PR-S6 hiking trail climbs from Bores to Enterrías. One description identifies a landscape feature along a route, while the other specifies a starting point, direction, and destination. If you plan to hike the PR-S6, bear in mind that trail conditions can vary.

Historical Connections to Water and Place

The Monterón also appears in a historical regulation: the 1744 Ordenanzas de Enterrias, Vada y Dobarganes regulated the distribution of irrigation water from the river. Thus, in addition to its role in the landscape, the Monterón has a specific cultural and historical connection: it was the source of the water whose distribution was regulated.

Another date of historical significance is August 9, 1284. Enterrías is first mentioned on that day in the cartulary of the monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana; the entry concerns a serna in San Pedro de Montero. Comparing the dates, a mention from 1284 and a water regulation from 1744 appear side by side. They concern different subjects: the entry about a serna in San Pedro de Montero and the distribution of water from the Monterón.

Discover more destinations: Cucayo, Vada, Dobres, Tudes and Tollo.

For the broader travel overview: Vega De Liébana.