San Juan de Paluezas: Castrelín, Churches and Routes

San Juan de Paluezas brings together archaeological traces, Romanesque religious architecture and routes through the landscape of the Río Sil. The Castrelín de San Juan de Paluezas reflects the history of settlement; the Ermita de la Virgen de la Estrella and the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción offer insight into the history of religious architecture. Also included are the Ruta de las Barrancas de Santalla and festival periods in June and August. These topics help you understand the place through its culture and landscape while distinguishing its individual attractions.

The Castrelín: Settlement and Location

The Castrelín de San Juan de Paluezas has the characteristic features of Asturian settlements. It is situated in a commanding position and protected by walls and ditches. Its position in the terrain and the defensive structures therefore go hand in hand. The Castrelín was a small settlement where probably no more than about one hundred people lived. This figure should be understood as an approximate historical estimate. The Castrelín is one of five places recommended to visitors in the Las Médulas area of the municipality of Borrenes. Both its location and its characteristic architectural features are essential to understanding the settlement.

Romanesque Traces in Two Religious Buildings

The Ermita de la Virgen de la Estrella is located in the northern, higher part of San Juan de Paluezas. The medieval religious building has a Romanesque apse and a bell gable. The Ermita's natural surroundings offer views over the valley and Lago de Carucedo. Its architectural history and relationship with the landscape stand side by side, without describing the same thing.

The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción is located on Calle el Foyo, on an elevated terrace in the upper part of the village. Its original structure had a semicircular Romanesque apse with three external buttresses. Both buildings are described as having a Romanesque apse; for the Iglesia, the semicircular shape is explicitly attributed to the original structure. The Ermita's bell gable and the Iglesia's three external buttresses are further specific architectural features of each building.

Ruta de las Barrancas: Routes and Landscape

The Ruta de las Barrancas de Santalla leads to the Ermita de la Virgen de la Estrella de San Juan de Paluezas, one of the area's attractions. In some places, it shares its route with the Camino de Invierno, a southern variant of the Way of St. James on the way to Galicia. The Ruta also crosses the floodplain of the Río Sil and follows paths to the fields and to the villages of San Juan de Paluezas and Santalla. Its description thus brings together different spatial references: the Ermita as a named landmark, the floodplain as a landscape, and the paths to fields and villages. The section it shares with the Camino de Invierno also places the Ruta in the context of a variant of the Way of St. James. The two names refer to different routes that partially share a course.

Festival Periods in June and August

Festivities in honor of the Virgen de la Estrella take place in San Juan de Paluezas in early June; San Roque is celebrated in August. The June celebration shares its name with the Ermita de la Virgen de la Estrella, while San Roque is a second festival held in August. If you are planning your trip around one of the festivals, check the exact dates in advance.

Discover more destinations: Maraña, Brugos de Fenar, Sésamo, Valencia De Don Juan, Puebla De Lillo, Cofiñal, Naredo de Fenar, Valdepiélago.

For the main travel overview: León.