Those looking for archaeological remains in Camargo will find two distinct points of interest in Escobedo: the Cueva de El Pendo and the Castillo del Collado. The Camino de Santiago de la Costa also passes through Camargo. The Pedro Velarde Ethnographic Museum and the Marismas de Alday add folk culture and winter birdlife to the picture. You can choose to focus on cave archaeology, architectural history, regional culture or nature observation.
Archaeology in Escobedo de Camargo
The Cueva de El Pendo is located in Escobedo de Camargo and has a significant archaeological stratigraphy. Stratigraphy describes the sequence of archaeological layers and draws attention to the depth of a site’s history. The cave can be visited on a guided tour, which lasts approximately 45 minutes. Check the visiting arrangements before you travel, as a guided tour is the form of visit described here.
The Castillo del Collado in Escobedo, Camargo, is an archaeological site designated a Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC), or Asset of Cultural Interest. Its classification as an early medieval site covers the period from the 8th to the 12th century AD. The Castillo survives as a consolidated ruin, where its original military structure can be made out. This offers a different historical perspective from El Pendo: here, the dating and military architectural form shape the picture, while the cave is of archaeological interest for its sequence of layers.
A section of the Camino with specific points of interest
The Camino de Santiago de la Costa passes through Camargo. Within Camargo, a branch follows the Bay of Santander to Maliaño and passes the Church of San Juan. The route description gives this section a specific direction and names its points of reference: the bay, Maliaño and San Juan. If you include this section in your plans, check local conditions in advance, as they can change.
Folk culture and winter birdlife
The Pedro Velarde Ethnographic Museum displays traditional furniture, kitchen utensils and tools used in traditional crafts. It is also a forum for the arts, customs and folk traditions of Cantabria. Its profile thus combines everyday objects with a broader view of art and customs. This is a different way to explore the culture from that offered by the archaeological sites: the focus is on everyday culture and inherited traditions, not on dating a ruin or examining the layers of a cave.
The Marismas de Alday provide refuge for more than 1,500 birds during the winter migration seasons. If you are particularly interested in birdlife, this seasonal detail is a useful guide. The route through the marshes has wooden boardwalks and two birdwatching hides. These specific features of the route complement the seasonal focus with a description of the facilities on site.
Discover more destinations: Revilla De Camargo, Maliaño, Igollo, Escobedo, Muriedas, Herrera De Ibio, La Lomba, Santa María De Cayón.
For the overview of the wider region: Cantabria.
