Surroundings

If there is a unique spot on the Alfoz de Lloredo coast, it is the El Bolao cliff—a natural landscape with incredible views of the Cantabrian Sea. It can be accessed partly by car and then on foot from either Cóbreces or Toñanes.

After reaching the cliff, you will find the Bolao Mill and the waterfall of the Presa stream, which flows all the way from the Las Aguas Cave in Novales.

Cistercian abbey, currently a Trappist monastery dedicated to Saint Mary of Viaceli. Built in Neo-Gothic style between 1906 and 1910, its founder and first abbot was the monk Manuel Fléché Rousse. Constructed in reinforced concrete, the complex features balanced architectural proportions arranged around a cloister, with a façade distinguished by mullioned windows and pointed arches.

Next to the cloister stands the church, designed in the shape of a Latin cross. It was financed by the brothers Manuel and Antonio de Quirós Pomar. In 1962, the original tower was destroyed by a fire caused by a lightning strike. The monastery also houses an ancient library of great historical value.

This chapel was built in the 16th century by Antonio de Villegas — son of Juan Sánchez de Villegas and great-grandson of the 3rd Lord of Cóbreces, Rodrigo de Villegas II “the Lustful,” who had 25 illegitimate children, only one of whom was a daughter. Beside the chapel, Antonio de Villegas also built his residence, where he placed his family coat of arms.

The chapel is a stone masonry construction made of rubblework, with ashlar stone details around the openings and corners, as well as a clock tower. Later renovations gave the building a Neo-Gothic façade and a large twin-arched window with a rose window.

Inside, the chapel features a magnificent 18th-century Solomonic altarpiece with original sculptures. At its center are Saint Joachim, Saint Anne, the Virgin Mary as a child, and the Stations of the Cross.

The chapel has long been cherished through the devotion and generosity of the people of Cóbreces, as Saint Anne is the town’s patron saint, whose feast day is celebrated on July 26th.

This is the parish church of the village, known as the “Red Church,” built in a French-inspired Neo-Gothic style and inaugurated in April 1897. It features a Latin cross floor plan with two towers on the façade, ribbed vaults, a semicircular apse opened to the exterior through elegant elongated windows, and a striking red octagonal dome above the crossing. The dome includes lantern-style stained-glass windows that allow abundant natural light into the interior.

The central nave also contains beautiful geometric stained-glass windows with pointed arches, while the choir — designed as a passageway between the two towers — stands out for its magnificent handcrafted overhanging structure.

The church was inspired by Norman Romanesque models and Gothic masterpieces such as Erfurt Cathedral. It was financed by the Pedro José de Villegas Ruiz Foundation and built after the death of this wealthy businessman, according to the wishes expressed in his will.

Originally a fortified tower house, this building was transformed in the 17th century into a traditional mountain manor house by Licentiate Miguel de Villegas — son of the 10th Lord of Cóbreces, Juan de Villegas III Cevallos y Quevedo, and his second wife, María Ruiz de la Sierra. His coat of arms and tomb can still be found in the chapel he founded in the parish church of San Felices de Mies, in Cóbreces.

The Neo-Gothic style of the crenellated tower, reminiscent of Alcázar of Segovia, was commissioned by Colonel Baldomero de Villegas in memory of his imprisonment in that famous fortress.

The palace is located in what is now the Corrales neighborhood.

The Chapel of Saint Roch is one of the most charming landmarks in Cóbreces. This small 17th-century chapel, rebuilt in 1903, stands out for its traditional Cantabrian architecture and for hosting the popular Saint Roch festival every August 16th.

Located in a peaceful natural setting, it is an ideal stop to discover the local history and heritage during your stay.

This church was rebuilt in a Renaissance-Gothic style around 1430 on the site of the former Monastery of San Félix, founded in the year 943. The reconstruction was commissioned by Rodrigo de Villegas I, eldest son and heir of the first Lord of Cóbreces, Ruy Pérez de Villegas II, and his wife Teresa Díaz de Cevallos of the House of Cevallos de las Presillas, who permanently settled in the village.

The church still preserves its original Romanesque bell gable and medieval Gothic doorway dating from around 1122. In the cemetery stands a sculpture of Christ created by the artist Jesús Otero.

Numerous references to the Villegas family can be found throughout the church, including coats of arms and funerary slabs that attest to its foundation and restoration. This ancient parish church of Cóbreces was abandoned in 1891, although its cemetery remains preserved to this day.

The Villegas Foundation and the former San José School are among the most representative historical landmarks in Cóbreces. This 18th-century complex, located in the El Pino neighborhood, stands out for its traditional mountain-style architecture and for its important educational and social role throughout the years.

The building was promoted by Pedro José de Villegas under the dedication of Saint Joseph and, from 1872 onwards, it was managed by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul as a girls’ school. Today, it remains an important cultural meeting place in the village and serves as the headquarters of the Kaopreces Cultural Association, organizer of many local events and activities.

Casal de Castro is an elegant 18th-century Baroque manor house built on the site of an older residence. Located on the road leading to Luaña Beach, it stands out for its traditional Cantabrian architecture, featuring ashlar stone façades, a typical mountain-style sun gallery, and a charming porch with a semicircular arch.

The estate is surrounded by beautiful natural grounds and preserves several historic elements, including noble coats of arms and a small private chapel within the property. It is one of the most charming and historic landmarks in Cóbreces, perfect to discover while exploring the area.

The Quirós Practical Agricultural Institute is one of the most remarkable historic buildings in Cóbreces. Built between 1904 and 1906 by the brothers Antonio and Manuel Bernaldo de Quirós Pomar, it stands on the site of the former family manor house founded in the 17th century.

The building is notable for its stately three-story architecture, its elegant semicircular entrance arch, and the original noble coat of arms of the Quirós family. Today, it remains an important part of the town’s historical and cultural heritage.

The former Quirós Practical Agricultural Institute is now home to the Quirós School (CEIP Quirós), continuing its long educational tradition and remaining an important landmark in the cultural and social life of Cóbreces.