Sobrescobio
Encyclopedia
Sobrescobio is a municipality in the Autonomous Community of the Principality of Asturias, Spain
. It is bordered on the north by Piloña
, on the east by Caso
, on the south by Aller
, and on the west by Laviana
. It is situated in the southeast section of Asturias, at the eastern limit of the Nalón
mineral basin.
It forms part of the Communal Valley of Nalón, together with Langreo
, San Martín del Rey Aurelio
, Laviana and Caso. With Caso, it forms part of the Parque Natural de Redes
.
, slate
and occasionally sandstone
are the typical rocks in this area. The mountains of the Sierra Grandesllanes, Sierra Carderu, Sierra del Crespón, Sierra Mermeja and Sierra de Collaroces surround the area with El Retriñón, (1.862 m) as highest point.
passes Sobrescobio. The rivers Rio del Alba, Rio Llaimu, Rio Nozalin and Rio Huegro are located nearby. The reservoir
Embalse de Rioseco is in Rioseco, the Capital of Sobrescobio.
(at Pumarín, Unqueru, Campu La Braña und Monte Caón) are open to visitors.
The Romans built some bridges along the Rio Nalon.
In the Middle Ages the area was held by the Order of Santiago
. In 1528 Philip II
sold Sobrescobio for the price of 600,000 Maravedí
to the Benedictine
Monastery
of San Vicente of Oviedo. To this occasion dates the first documented use of the town's name. Later in the 16th century it became an autonomous possession of the Spanish crown.
During the Peninsular War
General Francés Bonet passed through Sobrescobio on the way to the Battle of Salamanca
.
dominated the area until the 19th century. The chestnut
s from Sobrescobio where well known in Spain. Falling prices and the industrial expansion in Oviedo
and Gijon
caused an exodus from Sobrescobio. Regional tourism is expanding, attracting those who appreciate nature and silence.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. It is bordered on the north by Piloña
Piloña
Piloña is a municipality in the province and autonomous community of Asturias, northwestern Spain. Its capital is the town of Infiesto. Piloña is bounded to the north by Villaviciosa and Colunga, to the east by Parres, to the west by Nava and Cabranes, and to the south by Ponga, Caso and Sobrescobio...
, on the east by Caso
Caso
Caso is a municipality in the Spanish Principality of Asturias. It shares a boundary to the North with Piloña; to the East with Ponga; to the South with León and to the West with Sobrescobio and Laviana....
, on the south by Aller
Aller
The Aller is a river, long, in the states of Saxony-Anhalt and Lower Saxony in Germany. It is a right-hand, and hence eastern, tributary of the River Weser and is also its largest tributary. Its last form the Lower Aller federal waterway...
, and on the west by Laviana
Laviana
Laviana is a municipality in the Autonomous Community of the Principality of Asturias, located in Spain. It is bordered on the north by Bimenes and Nava, on the south by Aller, on the east by Piloña and Sobrescobio, and on the west by San Martín del Rey Aurelio and Mieres.Situated in the basin of...
. It is situated in the southeast section of Asturias, at the eastern limit of the Nalón
Nalón
Nalón can refer to:* Nalón , in northern Spain* Nalón , a river in the comarca* Muros de Nalón, a municipality in the comarca...
mineral basin.
It forms part of the Communal Valley of Nalón, together with Langreo
Langreo
Langreo, , officially Llangréu / Langreo is a municipality of northern Spain, province of The Principality of Asturias....
, San Martín del Rey Aurelio
San Martín del Rey Aurelio
San Martín del Rey Aurelio is a municipality of the Autonomous Community of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain....
, Laviana and Caso. With Caso, it forms part of the Parque Natural de Redes
Redes Natural Park
The Redes Natural Park is located in the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain. Its total area is , split between two municipalities: Caso and Sobrescobio . It was declared a natural park in 1996.-Conservation:...
.
Geology
LimestoneLimestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
, slate
Slate
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. The result is a foliated rock in which the foliation may not correspond to the original sedimentary layering...
and occasionally sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
are the typical rocks in this area. The mountains of the Sierra Grandesllanes, Sierra Carderu, Sierra del Crespón, Sierra Mermeja and Sierra de Collaroces surround the area with El Retriñón, (1.862 m) as highest point.
Rivers and Lakes
Río NalonNalón River
The Nalón is a 153km long river and the longest river in the autonomous community of Asturias, Spain. It joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Bay of Biscay in San Esteban de Pravia. Its tributaries include the Narcea River.-See also :* List of rivers of Spain...
passes Sobrescobio. The rivers Rio del Alba, Rio Llaimu, Rio Nozalin and Rio Huegro are located nearby. The reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
Embalse de Rioseco is in Rioseco, the Capital of Sobrescobio.
Climate
The climate includes warm summers and mild winters. Strong storms can occur in spring and fall.History
Human settlement in the area dates to prehistoric times. Some Hill Forts (at Agues (Soto de Agues), Campiellos and Corona de Castro) also DolmenDolmen
A dolmen—also known as a portal tomb, portal grave, dolmain , cromlech , anta , Hünengrab/Hünenbett , Adamra , Ispun , Hunebed , dös , goindol or quoit—is a type of single-chamber megalithic tomb, usually consisting of...
(at Pumarín, Unqueru, Campu La Braña und Monte Caón) are open to visitors.
The Romans built some bridges along the Rio Nalon.
In the Middle Ages the area was held by the Order of Santiago
Order of Santiago
The Order of Santiago was founded in the 12th century, and owes its name to the national patron of Galicia and Spain, Santiago , under whose banner the Christians of Galicia and Asturias began in the 9th century to combat and drive back the Muslims of the Iberian Peninsula.-History:Santiago de...
. In 1528 Philip II
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
sold Sobrescobio for the price of 600,000 Maravedí
Spanish maravedí
The maravedí was the name of various Iberian coins of gold and then silver between the 11th and 14th centuries and the name of different Iberian accounting units between the 11th and 19th centuries.-Etymology:...
to the Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
Monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of San Vicente of Oviedo. To this occasion dates the first documented use of the town's name. Later in the 16th century it became an autonomous possession of the Spanish crown.
During the Peninsular War
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
General Francés Bonet passed through Sobrescobio on the way to the Battle of Salamanca
Battle of Salamanca
The Battle of Salamanca saw Anglo-Portuguese and Spanish armies under the Duke of Wellington defeat Marshal Auguste Marmont's French forces among the hills around Arapiles south of Salamanca, Spain on July 22, 1812 during the Peninsular War....
.
Economics
AgricultureAgriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
dominated the area until the 19th century. The chestnut
Chestnut
Chestnut , some species called chinkapin or chinquapin, is a genus of eight or nine species of deciduous trees and shrubs in the beech family Fagaceae, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The name also refers to the edible nuts they produce.-Species:The chestnut belongs to the...
s from Sobrescobio where well known in Spain. Falling prices and the industrial expansion in Oviedo
Oviedo
Oviedo is the capital city of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain. It is also the name of the municipality that contains the city....
and Gijon
Gijón
Gijón , officially Gijón / Xixón, is a coastal industrial city and a municipality in the autonomous community of Asturias in Spain. Early mediaeval texts mention it as "Gigia". It was an important regional Roman city, although the area has been settled since earliest history...
caused an exodus from Sobrescobio. Regional tourism is expanding, attracting those who appreciate nature and silence.
Parishes
- LadinesLadinesLadines is one of three parishes in Sobrescobio, a municipality within the province and autonomous community of Asturias, in northern Spain.It is in size, with a population of 51 ....
(in AsturianAsturian languageAsturian is a Romance language of the West Iberian group, Astur-Leonese Subgroup, spoken in the Spanish Region of Asturias by the Asturian people...
: Llaíñes) - OviñanaOviñanaOviñana is one of three parishes in Sobrescobio, a municipality within the province and autonomous community of Asturias, in northern Spain.It is in size, with a population of 540 . The postal code is 33993.-Villages:...
- San Andrés de AguesSan Andrés de AguesSan Andrés de Agues is one of three parishes in Sobrescobio, a municipality within the province and autonomous community of Asturias, in northern Spain....
Villages
- Campiellos (Campiellos)
- La Polina (La Polina)
- LadinesLadinesLadines is one of three parishes in Sobrescobio, a municipality within the province and autonomous community of Asturias, in northern Spain.It is in size, with a population of 51 ....
(LLaíñes) - Rioseco (Rusecu)
- Soto de Agues (Soto d'Agües)
- Villamorey (Villamorei)
Main sights
- Castle of Villamorey
- "Casa de los Canella" (16th century)
- Parish church of Santa María la Real de Oviñana (15th century)
- Natural Park of Redes