La Bolera de los Moros

La Bolera de los Moros was a fortress built between the 8th and 12th centuries, whose ruins are known as Piñeres castle. The excavations coordinated by Pedro Sarabia confirmed the presence of a trapezoidal tower, an ovoid watchtower with diameters of 10 and 6 metres, separated from the first structure by a courtyard, strong walls and a primitive hermitage dedicated to Santa Catalina of which only the foundations remain. The castle is located on the Jozarcu mountain, next to the Mirador de Jozarcu, in the municipality of Peñarrubia. It was declared a site of cultural interest as an archaeological area by Law 16/1985, having already been protected on 22nd April 1949. Like other contemporary castles in Cantabria, the Bolera de los Moros seems to have been related to the town of Peñarrubia.Its proximity to the Mozarabic church of Santa María de Lebeña and the existence of the toponym La Mora cave nearby may indicate that this area welcomed Christian exiles from the Islamized lands of the south. In Liébana it is said that it is called Bolera de los Moros because in that place the Muslims played bowling with skittles and balls made of gold, although it is so called because it is shaped like a bowling alley.

It is the oldest non-prehistoric vestige of Peñarrubia, and probably played an important role as a strategic watchtower to guard the accesses to the coast. In addition to the different structures, bones, metals and various ceramics have been found, some decorated and, in particular, of the comb type, common in Asturias. The decoration found, painted and striated, is characteristic of the art of repopulation.

In 1999 around 300 m² of the site were excavated, uncovering the walls and the foundations of the structures that form it, settling the remains and preparing the area for visits, which included the creation of a car park and the necessary signposting.