Things to see and do Riosa

The municipality of Riosa, located in the province of Asturias in Spain, has its own tourist office.

Located on the flank of Pico Xistras and surrounded by a fairly dense forest, the mining village occupies 1 000 m ² and consists of 5 buildings with offices, canteen, commissary and housing, built in the British architectural style (red bricks and doors and windows decoration). When abandoned a few years ago, these houses were rehabilitated as part of an employment workshop program. In a next step, the one that was the engineer's home should also be rehabilitated and host a mine interpretation centre.

He is a Belgian engineer, Van Straalen, who in 1888 discovered, by accident, all Texeo copper mines consisting of a network of galleries and vertical wells. The analysis of the found remains (human skeletons, stone, and wood) made it possible to situate their first exploitation in the second millennium BC. Faced with the abundance of recovered bones, some thought that it could be a cemetery but others more likely opt for an accident in these mines. Access to these very old mines is located much higher in the mountain. There is no way to go, given the stiffness of the rise and the absence of signs. After their discovery, an English contractor restarted their operations, installing lower premises (those which can be seen) but using the old areas of reception, washing, selection and charge of the ore whose remains are also visible, above the area of the houses.

The rise of this mythical stage of the Vuelta, which saw the triumph of French Kenny Elissonde in 2013, is a journey of 12,5 km (average slope of 10,13%) that can be done by car, on foot (why not), but also by bike, for the most courageous. If it is better to avoid winter due to snow, it will always be necessary to pay attention to sudden and ponctuelles arrivals. Throughout the ascent, signs indicate the name of the passage and its length, altitude, scale, and remaining distance to the crown. The first half of the journey, the most gentle, leads to the recreational Area of Viapará which offers tables, parking and nice views of the Riosa, the Monsacro and the Sierra del Aramo. It is after the beginning of the serious ascent (1 570 m altitude) with a slope of 21,5% at the Cuesta les Cabanes. At 900 m altitude, we have a panoramic view of the surrounding area, cows and horses. And at kilometre 10,3, this is the beginning of so-called "hell", with a slope of 23%. Upon arrival, the reward: a beautiful view of Pico Gamonal (1 712 m) in the north and on Moncuevu (1 718 m) in the south. An explanatory table completes your information.