With 14.5 kilometres of mapped galleries, Cueva Huerta is one of the largest karst caves in Asturias. During a visit, a guided tour covers around 300 metres of the cave via wooden walkways and stairs. Access is only possible as part of a guided tour; check the booking conditions before travelling. Above ground, the cave is also a starting point for discovery: in 2002, it was declared a Natural Monument and included in the network of protected natural areas of the Principality of Asturias.

Caves and Waterways

Another natural highlight is Cascada del Xiblu: three waterfalls, one above another, reach a combined height of about 100 metres. An accessible walking route leads through Hayedo de Montegrande to the cascade. The trail is signposted as PR AS 269 “Hayedo de Monte Grande y Cascada del Xiblu”. Together, the cave visit and walk offer different ways to discover Teverga’s nature: one route takes you underground, the other through the forest to the tiered waterfalls.

Another hiking option is Ruta del Puerto de Marabio, a circular trail signposted as PR-AS 72. It is considered an easy hike and takes a little over three hours. The stated duration and difficulty can help you choose, but they do not replace checking conditions, which vary by season. Check them before setting out. For a shorter, practical stop near Cueva Huerta, the recreation area there has a viewpoint, parking, barbecue spots, tables and benches. It is close to the cave and to a possible starting or finishing point of Senda del Oso.

Historic Trails

Senda del Oso follows the former route of a 19th-century mining railway and passes through small tunnels. The railway’s past is an integral part of the trail’s story, giving the route an industrial history as well as a hiking experience. For a different historical perspective, there is Camín Real de la Mesa: from the 1st century BC, it served as a Roman road and a northern branch of Vía de la Plata.

When choosing between the trails, you can use the features described for each as a guide: Ruta del Puerto de Marabio is an easy circular route that takes a little over three hours; Senda del Oso follows a former railway line and passes through tunnels. The PR AS-158 is signposted for Abrigos de Fresnedo. The trail has some difficulties due to elevation changes and technical requirements. Assess the demands before setting out and take local conditions into account.

Romanesque Architecture and Prehistoric Art

Colegiata de San Pedro brings architectural history and styles together in one place: built between 1069 and 1076, it combines Asturian pre-Romanesque elements with early Romanesque architecture. The sacristy museum preserves the mummified remains of the Marqués de Valdecarzana and his son, Pedro de Miranda. The periods represented and the distinctive collection make the collegiate church a different focus from the natural sites and trails.

Rock art is another distinct subject in Teverga. Abrigos de Fresnedo is considered Asturias’s most complex site of schematic rock art and the richest in depictions. Parque de la Prehistoria de Teverga presents important examples of European cave art. Its facilities include five animal enclosures with six different species. You can combine cultural discoveries about prehistoric art with the architecture of the collegiate church, while keeping in mind that the two places tell different stories: one focuses on cave art and how it is presented, the other on architectural history and a specific museum collection.

Discover more destinations: La Plaza, Teverga, Campiello, Camín Real De La Mesa, Oviedo, Ibias, Mieres, Peñamellera Alta.

For the broader travel overview: Asturias.