Choosing Cabrillanes as a destination lets you focus on mountain scenery, trails and regional history. The area is defined by broad valleys covered in extensive pastures and stone villages. In these villages, houses, hórreos, mills, fountains, towers and manor houses have retained their distinctive character. The routes described start in Torre de Babia, La Cueta or at the villages along the Camino Real de Pregame, while cultural destinations offer their own points of interest. You can decide whether to focus on scenery and hiking, or on pilgrimage, architectural history and everyday culture.

Mountain Scenery, Lagoons and Nature Watching

Babia de Arriba, also known as Babia de Suso, lies in rugged mountain country. The La Mata, El Miro, El Sierro and El Troiquín lagoons are of glacial origin and are included in the Castilla y León Wetlands Catalogue. The pine forest in Cabrillanes also stands out: it is a landmark in a region with relatively little woodland and is considered the forest with the greatest diversity of trees in the Parque Natural de Babia y Luna.

Another natural attraction is the Parque Estelar: one of its observation points is located near Laguna Grande, in Lago de Babia. This gives you a range of natural features to consider when planning your trip: glacial lagoons, woodland and a stargazing point near Laguna Grande.

Trails with Distinctive Routes

The route to Laguna de Las Verdes starts in Torre de Babia. It passes the ruins of the medieval tower that gave the village its name, then continues to the lagoon. The entire route runs through a protected natural area. There, picking plants and mushrooms and driving motor vehicles outside approved uses and designated areas are prohibited. Keep these rules in mind when planning your route.

Starting in La Cueta, the Fuentes del Sil route passes the Molino de Cobrana mill building and follows the Sil upstream to higher pastures. The Camino Real de Pregame connects Quintanilla, Mena and Huergas de Babia along a quiet path through the valley floor, with hardly any significant changes in elevation. These two trails offer a clear contrast in their described routes: the Fuentes del Sil route climbs alongside the river to higher pastures, while the Camino Real follows the valley floor. When choosing between them, consider which setting interests you most.

Pilgrimage, Architectural History and Everyday Culture

The main day of the Romería de Carrasconte is August 15. Every year on this date, the festival takes place at the Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Carrasconte, and has been recognized as a festival of provincial tourist interest. On August 14, a nighttime vigil and torchlight processions from Babia and Laciana lead up to the main day. If you want to plan around the date, you can treat the eve and the festival day as a connected cultural highlight.

The earliest written records of the Santuario de la Virgen de Carrasconte date from 1602 and 1634. In the 18th century, the sanctuary was expanded to accommodate the large influx of worshippers. In the municipality of Cabrillanes, the Santuario includes the Marian chapel, altar, side aisles, dome and part of the nave. The church in Cabrillanes also dates from the late 18th century.

The Ethnographic Museum in Torre de Babia offers a different perspective on time. It is housed in a restored traditional home from the Babia region. Its approximately 3,200 objects reflect local life in the 20th century. While the earliest written records of the Santuario date back to the 17th century, the collection focuses on the everyday life and world of a later period.

Discover more destinations: Huergas, Portilla de la Reina, Ocero, Peñalba De Santiago, La Braña, Vegacerneja, La Bañeza, Barjas.

For the broader travel overview: León.