Salas

Salas is a town in Asturias in the north of Spain, with a population of 1400 in 2024. It has an old castle and church, and is a stopover on El Camino pilgrimage trail to Santiago. == Get in == Highway A-63 snakes up the valley from Oviedo, 46 km. ALSA buses run hourly from Oviedo, taking an hour via Grado and Cornellana, and continuing to La Espina and Tineo. Buses make multiple stops in town. == Get around == The town can be easily explored on foot. Taxi Salas is on +34 679 913607. == See == A total solar eclipse on Wednesday 12 Aug 2026, starting at 20:27 and lasting two minutes. The chances of a clear sky are only 40%, and you need to find a spot with a clear view to the northwest horizon, where the sun will be setting. Coast is best: hilltops are more likely to be socked in by cloud, and after the show you’d have to descend an unfamiliar hill trail in darkness. 1 Castillo de Salas, Plaza del Ayuntamiento 20, ☏ +34 684 629878. Apr-Sep W-Su 11:00-14:00, 15:00-18:00. Sturdy bastion first documented in 1124. It houses the Museo Prerrománico de San Martín, with 10th century pieces and tombstones. A little bridge crosses to the Palace of Valdés, now a hotel, see below. (updated Feb 2026) Santa María la Mayor, Av de Galicia 2 (50 m east of castle), ☏ +34 985 830969. The church was established in the 16th century by the Valdés-Salas family, whose mausoleum is within. It incorporated the earlier Monasterio de San Martín, which goes back to the 9th century. (updated Feb 2026) Plaza Príncipe de Asturias 100 m north of the castle is the main square on the other side of the river. 2 San Martín de Salas. Parish church re-built in the 16th century over a 10th century predecessor. (updated Feb 2026) 3 Santuario de la Virgen de la Asunción del Viso is a Marian shrine in the hills 5 km north of Salas. The present building is from 1708. 4MISSING WIKILINK La Espina is a small village 12 km west, an alternative stopover on El Camino. It's mostly modern. The Church of San Vicente is only open for Sunday mass. == Do == Carmen Zuleta Park is east side of town. El Nortte del Olimpo is a fitness centre at San Roque 16, south of the Church of Santa María la Mayor. Piscina Municipal is an outdoor swimming pool at Río Lleiroso 16. Camino Primitivo is the original course of El Camino pilgrimage trail to Santiago. It starts in Oviedo and passes through Grado, Cornellana, Quintana and Casazorrina to Salas. It continues west via La Espina and Tineo. == Buy == Alimerka is the supermarket, at Comandante Antonio Novo Ferreiro 7, open M-Sa 09:00-21:30. Día and La Tienda de Jose are small stores. == Eat == Casa Pachón is at La Campa 4 just west of the castle, open daily 10:00-23:00. El Molin de Salas is at Entrerios 2 off Plaza Principe de Asturias, open Tu 10:30-16:30, W-M 10:30-23:30. Castillo de Salas Hotel (below) serves non-residents Su-Th 12:00-17:00, F Sa 12:00-23:00. Menéndez at Plaza de la Veiga del Rey 30 is open M-Sa 07:30-00:00. La Espina: Pension Dakar at Av la Constitución 41 serves meals daily M-Sa 08:00-21:00, Su 10:00-13:00. == Drink == Bar La Luciana and El Arco are both next to the castle. Uruguay, Covadonga and Donde Juan are east of the church along Av de Galicia. Cider is the main drink in Asturias. == Sleep == Castillo de Salas Hotel, Plaza de la Campa 1, ☏ +34 984 098017. Charming small hotel in a courtyard attached to the castle. B&B double €120. (updated Feb 2026) Cielito Lindo is a hostel just south of the castle at Plaza del Ayuntamiento 18, open March-Oct. Albergue Valle de Nonaya is a hostel 100 m east of the castle at Arzobispo Valdés Salas 5, open March-Oct. El Tulipán de Salas (formerly Albergue La Campa), Plaza de la Campa 7 (50 m west of Castillo Hotel), ☏ +34 643 158850. Comfy friendly hostel. (updated Feb 2026) 1 Albergue Municipal, La Vega 8, ☏ +34 684 609796. Clean hostel north side of town, open March-Sep. Accredited pilgrims only. (updated Feb 2026) 2 Casa Sueño, Ondinas 19, ☏ +34 673 914308. Peaceful small hotel west edge of town, with bunks in the adjacent modern hostel. Open March-Dec. (updated Feb 2026) Posada de Peregrinos Fontenonaya is 5 km west in Porciles. Albergue de Peregrinos Bodenaya is another km along the road. La Espina 12 km west of Salas has Albergue Casa Aladino and El Texu. == Connect == As of Feb 2026 Salas and its approach roads have 5G from MasMovil, Movistar and Orange, but no signal from Vodafone. == Go next == Tineo and Pola de Allande are the next stops westbound on the trail to Santiago. Oviedo is a bustling modern city with a historic cathedral.