Cabranes has a rugged, yet not mountainous, terrain, with its economy focused on cattle and apple farming.

[2] There is little mention of Cabranes in written history until the 13th century, although archeological vestiges prove inhabitance of the area before that time.

The construction of the monastery of Valdedios was a notable event during the period; the municipality as a whole continued to remain relatively unnoteworthy due to its rural nature.

[2][3] Due to the municipality's historically high number of "Indianos," or Spaniards who emigrated to Latin America and later returned, there is a rich and diverse civil architecture.

There are also many religious buildings in the region, such as the church of San Julián de Viñon, which displays a combination of Pre-Roman Asturian and Romanesque architecture.