Mansilla de las Mulas

Old walled town with medieval patterns that is a link between the Royal French Way and the Via Trajana on the Jacobean Route. It is the end point of another route, the Vadiniense Way coming from San Vicente de la Barquera, thus linking the Northern Way with the French Way. The municipality consists of three localities: Mansilla del Esla, Mansilla de las Mulas and Villómar.

• Typically local architecture can be summed up in three types of architectural elements: arcades, mills and dovecotes.
• Walls: declared an Asset of Cultural Interest in 1931. Originally surrounded by an earthen wall, because of its military importance, Mansilla emerged as a stronghold for the interests of the crown and the cities of Oviedo and León, so the walls were most likely built before 1181. The crenellated defensive towers attached to the walls are really interesting, as well as the best-preserved gate known as Puerta de la Concepción, and the so-called “Postigo”, a small rear gate that leads to the river, surrounded by a wonderful landscape.
• Medieval bridge: built over the river Esla, it consists of eight barrel vaults that add up to 141 metres in length. It dates from the 12th century but was rebuilt in 1573.
• Church of Santa María: the first and only church in Mansilla until 1220, when five more churches were erected although they disappeared over the following centuries. The current building dates from the 18th century.
• Ethnographic Museum of the Province of León: located in the now refurbished old Convent of San Agustín dating from the 16th century.