Oles between Churches, Jet and Dinosaur Tracks
Accommodation in Oles
Oles can be explored through four themes: culture, crafts, forest paths and geological history. The cultural aspect becomes particularly tangible at Santa Eulalia de La Lloraza. The Romanesque church is located in the parish of Oles in Villaviciosa and has been designated a Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC) since 1960.
Culture
Santa Eulalia de La Lloraza has a rectangular floor plan and a square apse. Its main portal features a rich sculptural repertoire. The floor plan, apse and portal offer three clearly distinct points of observation. In this way, the geometric layout and the sculptural design of the same church stand side by side.
The Iglesia de San Félix de Oles has a rectangular nave and a square-ended chancel. Outside, the building preserves elements from its original construction phase, including two portals facing south and west. Inside, there is a Romanesque triumphal arch with two pointed archivolts. Comparing the exterior and interior draws attention to different architectural details without reducing the church to a single feature. Together with Santa Eulalia, this creates a distinct architectural focus comprising the building structure, portals, interior and sculpture.
Jet and Crafts
The Oles jet deposit, particularly the La Cimera mine, was the last site to be exploited. The spoil heaps of the Oles jet deposit still serve as a source of material today. The site thus combines a named deposit with a material source that continues to exist to this day. At the Mercáu Tradicional de Oles, crafts and craft techniques involving jet, wood, clay or ceramics are demonstrated. The history of the raw material and the demonstration of various techniques offer two different approaches to the subject of crafts.
Landscape
The Ruta de los Molinos follows the Río Rimera through a forest of chestnut, oak and birch trees and includes four old watermills. The river, tree species and mills form a clearly recognisable sequence of landscape and cultural elements along the same route. The trail therefore combines natural features with preserved technical structures.
The cliffs of Oles are a stop on the Costa de los Dinosaurios route. In recent years, the cliffs have yielded numerous dinosaur tracks. Alongside the wooded route by the Río Rimera, this is a coastal landscape with a geological theme. The two locations therefore represent different landscape contexts within Oles's themes: forest and water on the one hand, cliffs and geological history on the other.
Tradition
The Mercáu Tradicional de Oles takes place in the first half of August. Its timing adds a set period in the annual calendar to the crafts and techniques involving jet, wood, clay or ceramics demonstrated there.
Other Local Pages
In addition, the local pages lead to La Isla and Melendreros.
For the overarching travel overview: Comarca De La Sidra.
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