Liérganes lies at the foot of the two small hills of Marimón and Cotillamón, popularly known as “las tetas de Liérganes” (the breasts of Liérganes). In 1978, the town ensemble was classified as being of national historic and artistic interest, and it features valuable neoclassical architecture from the 17th and 18th centuries. In addition to its history, walks through karst landscapes and along the Río Miera shape the experience of a stay here.
Hiking trails between the Miera and limestone landscapes
The hiking trails of Liérganes pass through karst landscapes and along the densely wooded banks of the Río Miera. The short routes described in the middle basin are marked with white and yellow trail markers and approved by the Federación Cántabra de Montañismo. Check local trail conditions before setting out.
The Circuito por los Picos de Busampiro circular route offers panoramic views of the Liérganes valley, the central Cantabrian coast and the rugged limestone formations of the upper Miera Valley. A longer option is the PR-S 25 Ruta de los Pozos de Noja: it runs from Liérganes to Rubalcaba, is about 18 kilometres long and takes approximately five hours and 15 minutes. Its maximum elevation is 850 metres; here, too, local trail conditions should be factored into your plans.
The Pozos de Noja are two small artificial reservoirs south of the municipality, on the border with Miera. They were the origin of the electricity company Electra Pasiega, which supplied Liérganes and other places in the region with electricity. Another route connected with industrial history is the 20-kilometre Ruta de las Minas de Pámanes. It passes through the foothills of the Peña-Cabarga massif and offers views of the remains of former mining facilities.
Discover nature and tradition
The Ecomuseo-Fluviarium de la Montaña y Cuencas Fluviales Pasiegas is located in Liérganes. Aquariums, replicas and exhibitions showcase the natural and ethnographic heritage of the Pasiegos and Eastern Mountains and their river basins. Science, nature and tradition come together here. Check the current visitor arrangements before your visit.
The legend of the Hombre Pez (Fish Man) is an important part of the intangible heritage of Liérganes and Cantabria and is considered a tourist attraction in the town. In Mercadillo, the Centro de Interpretación del Hombre Pez is housed in a restored mill dating from 1667. It contains two millstones for corn and one for wheat.
For 2025, a municipal audio-guide route is described, with 17 information points in the historic town centre and two more in nearby Rubalcaba. Check whether it is available before travelling. The historic town centre, El Mercadil, also includes the Palacio de Rañada, which is also known as Cuesta-Mercadillo.
Local routes and architectural history
A monumental route through Liérganes is four kilometres long and takes about an hour. It takes in Baroque and Neoclassical architecture, Montañés manor houses and Indianos’ palaces, as well as churches, chapels, hermitages, a bridge and a mill. The shorter Mercadillo route is 1.5 kilometres long and takes about 25 minutes. It links Mercadillo (also known as Marqués de Valdecilla) and Vitote squares with San Pantaleón and the Puente Mayor.
Construction of the Puente Mayor de Liérganes began in 1587 to a design by master builder Bartolomé de Hermosa; the bridge was inaugurated in 1606. The Church of San Pedro ad Víncula is one of the few Renaissance religious buildings in Cantabria. Construction began in 1591 on the foundations of an older Romanesque church, remains of which are still visible in the apse area.
San Pantaleón retains features of the Romanesque tradition. Some authors date the church to the second half of the 13th century. In the 15th century, the original building was expanded into a church with three naves. Liérganes thus brings together different phases of construction, each highlighted in different ways by the local routes and the historic town centre.
Thermal history and parkland
The Liérganes spa was built in 1862, although the healing properties of the so-called Fuente Santa had been known much earlier. The spa is surrounded by a three-hectare park with numerous trees. These include a 32-metre-high beech, a horse chestnut and a magnolia, which have been included in the Cantabrian catalogue of notable trees for their beauty and size.
When planning your stay, it helps to compare the time required: the Mercadillo route is a short walk around the town, the monumental route takes about an hour, while the PR-S 25 takes around five hours and 15 minutes.
Discover more destinations: Anero, Peñacastillo, Santander, El Astillero, Tresviso, Valle De Villaverde, Vega De Liébana, Camaleño, Torices.
For the main travel overview: Cantabria.
