Candamo can be explored through various traces of its past: Palaeolithic cave art, traditional architecture, historic meeting places and visible evidence of military history all shape its character. Trails cross the landscape, while the strawberry-growing tradition adds a distinctive touch to local festival life.
Cave Art and Its Context
La Peña Cave in San Román, Candamo, is the westernmost cave with Palaeolithic art on the European continent. Its paintings and engravings date from between 22,590 and 10,870 years ago. Candamo Cave is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Cave of Altamira and Palaeolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain”.
The Candamo Cave Interpretation Centre is located in the restored Palacio de Valdés-Bazán in San Román. It features scale reproductions of the cave’s treasures, as well as a multimedia system about the parietal art of the Cantabrian coast. This brings the cave art and its visual interpretation into focus as two distinct aspects of the cultural heritage.
The location of La Peña Cave can also be pinpointed: it lies on the road from Grullos to Peñaullán (AS-236), between kilometre 4 and 5. A road leads from San Román to a car park near the cave.
Architecture and Local History
Aces is home to numerous old hórreos, many of which have carved doors. These doors make the traditional architecture especially vivid. San Pedro Mangón offers a different perspective on local history: the village has a history spanning more than ten centuries and served as the setting for the first open council meetings, as well as a school.
Religious buildings also tell the story of change over time. The church in La Mortera replaced a ruined hermitage dedicated to Saint Mark. The small church of San Andrés has a square apse, a single-nave hall and a bell gable with three arches.
El Castiellu is an oval area measuring approximately 100 × 40 metres. Steep changes in elevation protect the site on its northern, eastern and western slopes; on the southern side, the defensive system consists of three ramparts. Its shape and varied defensive features give the site a distinctive archaeological profile.
Trails and Military Remains
A narrow road runs from the last houses in La Ponte Peñaflor, via El Campillín and through the Sierra del Pedrousu, to the La Degollada recreation area. From there, a trail leads to the Picos del Horru Observatory, passing preserved traces of military archaeology along the way. A trench system is still visible at the observatory, which also offers a 360-degree panoramic view across central Asturias.
Another specific route description concerns the third route of the Espacio Histórico. It is 5.8 kilometres long and passes over Pico Pedrozu. Its military structures include trenches, machine-gun nests, positions for riflemen and grenadiers, and an observation shelter.
The La Degollada Multisport Centre offers several outdoor routes and circuits, including Asalto a las Trincheras, La Fe, Senda'l Pedrosu, Degollada 2.0 and Ciclo X. The Ciclo X circuit is 34.2 kilometres long, with an elevation gain of 644 metres. As a cycling route, it is designed for people with an intermediate fitness level and good stamina; it can also be walked.
River Landscapes and Strawberry Traditions
The Nalón flows through Candamo and, at 145 kilometres, is the longest river in Asturias. It adds a defining landscape feature to the cultural discoveries, without requiring any particular route.
Candamo’s horticultural tradition is particularly represented by strawberry cultivation. The Festival de la Fresa honours the people who preserve this long-standing tradition of cultivation and has been held since 1978. Traditional music and crafts accompany the strawberry displays. The festival thus brings together the local produce and the people and traditions that continue to cultivate it.
Discover more destinations: San Tirso De Abres, Salas, Riosa, Valle del Nalón, Cabo Peñas, San Martín De Oscos, Llanes, El Franco.
For the main travel overview: Asturias.
