Ayuntamiento de Coaña
(Coaña Town Council)

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November 2, 2024

Traditional Architecture

There are several traditional constructions in the council: horreos, paneras, cabazos, watermills or public washing places.

When we talk about hórreos, paneras y cabazos we mean the buildings where the cereals and the rest of the crops were kept. They were built with fine woods like oak or chestnut tree, stone (slate) or brick and they lift from the ground to a height that varies depending on the type of construction in order to keep these products away from humidity, rodents and birds.

These granaries can be grouped into two models of construction, depending on their use: we talk about "cabazos" if they are used for drying the maize, "hórreos" and "paneras" are used for curing the potatoes, onions, maize, cold meats and cheeses and all the perishable goods are stored there as if it was a pantry. The difference between hórreo and panera is basically its size; the panera is bigger, with a rectangular-shaped floor usually supported by 6 pillars.

The point of greatest development of the hórreo and panera in the council takes place in the mid 19th century.

Concerning the hydraulic mills or watermills, they were at their peak all through the 18th century and were used for grinding grains into flour, replacing the mills powered by hand used in the past for grinding wheat, emmer wheat or rye.
 

Photos:

Hórreo in Villacondide
Public washing place
Busnovo mill
Ayuntamiento de Coaña
Plaza del Ayuntamiento, s/n
33795 Coaña (Asturias)
Phones: (+34) 985 47 35 35 - (+34) 985 63 08 01
Fax: (+34) 985 63 04 68
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