The small town of Potes is located in the centre of Liébana, on a north oriented hillside. The hill called La Viorna is dominating the town, with a great stone and concrete cross, right on the summit. To the north, a road leads towards the district of Rases, and to the south, a path takes us to the hermitage of Valmayor, whose image is much worshipped by the locals.The first written document making reference to the town of Potes is from the 28th of March, 847, quoting: "strata publica qui discurrit ad pautes ...". The old parochial church and the town appear in a document from the year 952. On the 12th of July of 990, the presbitery Vermundo and his mother donated to the church of san Vicente, in Potes, the hermitages of Santa María in Valmayor, San Cosme and San Damián, Santa Olalla, and San Pedro, built in the town neighbourhood.