Picos de Europa Attractions
The Picos de Europa are a wild and majestic range of mountains, with steeply scarped peaks and deeply slashed valleys, lying between the rivers Deva and Sella near the north coast of Spain. The whole range is now a nature reserve. The massif (Spanish macizo) is divided into three parts by torrential mountain streams well stocked with fish. To the west, between the Río Sella and the Río Cares, is the Macizo de las Peñas Santas (Macizo de Occidente), with the Peñas Santas de Castilla (2,596m/8,517ft) as its highest peak; in this area is the Parque Nacional de Covadonga. Between the Río Cares and the Río Duje lies the Macizo de Urrieles (Macizo Central), the wildest section of the Picos de Europa, rising to 2,645m/8,678ft in the Torre de Cerredo. To the east, between the Río Duje and the Río Deva, is the Macizo de Andarra (Macizo de Oriente), the highest peak of which is the Pico Cortés (2,470m/8,104ft). This mountain barrier, extending parallel to the coast for a distance of almost 40km/25mi, is separated from the sea by the lower Sierra de Cuera, reaching to within 20km/12.5mi of the Bay of Biscay at its nearest point.
The inhabitants of this mountain region are mainly engaged in agriculture and stock-farming. They produce a well-known blue cheese, Cabrales, made from cow's, ewe's and goat's milk, which is somewhat similar to Roquefort. In the sheltered Liébana area around the little town of Potes cherries and walnuts are grown.
The inhabitants of this mountain region are mainly engaged in agriculture and stock-farming. They produce a well-known blue cheese, Cabrales, made from cow's, ewe's and goat's milk, which is somewhat similar to Roquefort. In the sheltered Liébana area around the little town of Potes cherries and walnuts are grown.
Desfiladero de la Hermida, Spain
From Panes C 621 runs south through the narrow gorge of the Río Deva, the Desfiladero de la Hermida (magnificent views), which takes its name from the little spa of La Hermida.
Puerto de Panderruedas
From Riaño C 637 runs north to Vegacerneja, on the Río Sella, and continues to a junction just before the Puerto del Pontón where a side road branches off on the right and winds its way up to the Puerto de Panderruedas, amid beautiful mountain scenery. From the pass it is a 20 minutes' walk to the Mirador de Piedrafitas (views).
Puerto de Pandetrave
From the pass the road descends the valley of the Río Lechada to Portilla de la Reina, on the Río Yuso, from which a side road runs north to the Puerto de Pandetrave (1,562m/5,125ft), in the heart of the Picos de Europa. Here too there are magnificent views of the surrounding peaks.
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Santo Toribio de Liébana
Santo Toribio de Liébana claims to contain a portion of the True Cross, which can be seen in the Capilla de la Santísima Cruz.
Cueva del Buxu
2km/1.25mi east of Cangas de Onis on C 6312 a side road on the left leads to the Cueva del Buxu, with Palaeolithic cave paintings (25,000-30,000 B.C.)
Desfiladero de los Beyos
From Oseja de Sajambre C 637 winds its way down the picturesque gorge of the Río Sella, the Desfiladero de los Beyos, and continues to Cangas de Onis, the starting-point of the Picos de Europa driving tour.
Las Arenas de Cabrales, Spain
C 6312 continues east, passing the turning for Covadonga, and comes in 27km/17mi to the valley of the Río Cares. It then runs down the valley to Arenas de Cabrales (alt. 120m/394ft), where the famous Cabrales cheese is made.
Lebena - Nuestra Senora, Spain
A few kilometers beyond La Hermida is Lebeña, with the little 10th century church of Nuestra Señora de Lebeña, a notable example of Mozarabic church architecture.
Mirador de Llesba
From Potes a road goes south up a lateral valley of the Río Deva to La Vega de Liébana and then follows a winding course, with many sharp bends, to the Puerto de San Glorio (1,609m/5,279ft), from which it is a half-hour walk (to the right) to the Mirador de Llesba (views).
Oseja de Sajambre
C 637 continues over the Puerto del Pontón to Oseja de Sajambre, from which a minor road leads up to the Mirador de Oseja de Sajambre, with a view down into the deep and narrow gorge of the Río Sella.
Panes de Peñamellera
C 6312 follows the Río Cares down to Panes de Peñamellera, where the Cares flows into the Río Deva.
Potes, Spain
Potes, 27km/17mi from Panes, is a picturesque little town in a beautiful setting, the center of the fruit growing district of Liébana and a good base from which to explore the southeastern Picos de Europa. The 15th century Torre del Infantado is now the Town Hall.
