Asturias brings together nature, rural inland areas and coastal towns. Cider offers a special way to connect with regional culture: its production, distribution and consumption are part of a tradition that has been declared UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. At the same time, protected areas cover more than a third of Asturias. When planning a trip, you can give different weight to culture, landscapes and specific experiences.

Cider Culture and Regional Traditions

The Cider Route offers visits to cider houses and apple orchards, tastings of cider straight from the barrel, and the chance to learn the traditional way of pouring it. Available activities depend on the establishment and the season. This lets you encounter the tradition both as intangible cultural heritage and through hands-on experiences of production and pouring.

Cave Art, Architecture and Pilgrimage Routes

The Cave of Peña de Candamo is one of the 18 decorated caves included in the UNESCO World Heritage property “Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain.” Another historical landmark is the UNESCO World Heritage property “Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias”: it is associated with an innovative pre-Romanesque architectural style that emerged in the 9th-century Kingdom of Asturias.

At the Royal Site of Covadonga and its lakes, history, spirituality and nature come together in a shared visitor experience. The Virgin of Covadonga, known as the Santina and the patron saint of Asturias, is venerated in the Santa Cueva; thousands of people make a pilgrimage to her each year. Its religious significance can thus be understood in the context of a place that also brings nature and history together.

The Camino Primitivo also combines historical context with practical guidance: it is considered the first pilgrimage route to Santiago recorded in history. Its route through Asturias runs from Oviedo to Puerto del Acebo and is 145.6 kilometres long in total. The Hospitales variant is 141.9 kilometres long, making it shorter. The Camino Primitivo in Asturias can be divided into seven stages, with further subdivisions also possible.

Mountain Landscapes and Protected Nature

The protected areas feature a range of landscapes. Picos de Europa National Park covers 646 km² and reaches a maximum elevation of 2,648 m at Torrecerredo in the Central Massif. Redes Natural Park is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve featuring glacial landforms, karst caves, pastures and extensive woodlands. Wildlife found there includes brown bears, capercaillies, wolves, chamois and deer; sightings of these animals are not guaranteed.

Las Ubiñas-La Mesa is also a Biosphere Reserve: its varied mountain landscape has peaks over 2,400 m high. The natural park is also crossed by the Vía Carisa and the Camino Real de la Mesa, two old Roman roads that connected the region with the León plateau. Somiedo Natural Park was designated a Biosphere Reserve in 2000. Together, these places show the different ways to experience Asturias’ natural and cultural landscapes.

Routes and Practical Information

Guided routes are offered in Picos de Europa National Park; the programme may vary by season. Visitor centres are located at Casa Dago and Pedro Pidal. The Cares Route is among the routes listed in the park. Bulnes can be reached from Poncebos by a funicular that passes through the mountain and makes access easier. Check current operating conditions before your trip.

Lago del Valle is considered the largest lake in Asturias and has a distinctive island. Valle del Lago is considered the gateway to the lake, which is about 6 km from the village. Check local access conditions before visiting.

Museums, Crafts and Cheese

The Somiedo Ecomuseum interprets rural ways of life and cultural landscapes created by local communities over time. These include three homes with traditional broom-thatched roofs, known as “teitos de escoba.” Traditional crafts are presented through tools and videos showing the work of craftspeople.

The Museum of Mining and Industry of Asturias (MUMI) presents the history of Asturian mining through images, machinery, minerals, bibliography and topics in the sociology of work. Its “mina-imagen” recreates the interior of a mine, complete with a realistic winding cage stage. Individual visitors can enter the mine in groups organised by the museum; check the visit arrangements in advance.

For an insight into cheesemaking, the Asiegu cheese dairy offers a guided tour that includes the production of Cabrales cheese, the drying room, a natural ageing cave and a final tasting. Check booking arrangements before your trip.

If you’re looking for a hotel in Asturias, first decide whether culture, mountain landscapes, pilgrimage routes or regional experiences will shape your trip.

Discover more destinations: Comarca Del Nora, Ribadesella, Belmonte De Miranda, Avilés, Amieva, Candamo, Laviana, Cabranes, Llanera, Villanueva De Oscos, Castrillón, Ribera De Arriba, Valdés, Morcín, Coaña, Allande, Gozón, Cabrales, Caso, Ponga, Carreño, Lena, Aller, Ibias, Rozagás, Prieres, Otur, Villademoros, San Martín Del Rey Aurelio, Boal, Quirós, Campiellos, Candamo, Cangas De Onis, Cangas Del Narcea, Caravia, Castropol, Illano, Colunga, Corvera De Asturias, Cudillero, Degaña, El Franco, Grado, Grandas De Salime, Teverga, Langreo, Llanes, Mieres, Muros De Nalón, Nava, Navia, Noreña, Onís, Oviedo, Peñamellera Alta, Pesoz, Piloña, Pravia, Proaza, Ribadedeva, Riosa, Parres, Salas, San Tirso De Abres, Santa Eulalia De Oscos, Siero, Sobrescobio, Soto Del Barco, Tapia De Casariego, Taramundi, Tineo, Villaviciosa, Villayón, Peñamellera Baja, Meluerda, La Vega, El Vallín, Carraluz, Gijón, Ribadesella, Ponga, San Martín De Oscos, Cabo Peñas, Merás, Bodé, Caspio La Vega, Escobal, Careses, Cerredo, Les Maces, Vegadeo, Coviella, Celada, Ricabo, El Cuadro, Camín Real De La Mesa, Comarca De La Sidra, Cabo Peñas, Soto De Ribera, Parque Histórico Del Navia, Montaña Central, Oriente De Asturias, Loujedo, Coaña, Helgueras, Sotiello, Tuiza de Abajo, Riofabar, Quejo, Sinariega, Nevares, Lloroñi, Muñas, San Martín de Bada, Tresano, Giranes, Jarrio, Endriga, Buelles, Buelna, Beloncio, Pimiango, Verdera, La Arquera, Llueves, Folgueras, Comarca del Nora, Cuadroveña, Cardoso, Villa, Muñón Cimero, La Robellada, Las Arenas, Pruneda, Camuño, Serantes, Premio, La Pedrera, Robledo, Comarca Vaqueira, Valle del Nalón, Santo Adriano, Bajo Nalón, Miñagón, Asturias, Pedroveya, Tene, Llamoso, Carbes, Vaqueira.

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