Sésamo offers two distinct themes in Peña Piñera and Las Devesas: archaeological rock art and a natural area with rich flora and fauna. The La Peña viewpoint looks out over the surrounding natural landscape. This range is useful when planning your trip: you can focus on archaeological remains, landscape or local festivals.
Peña Piñera: Rock Art and Trails
Peña Piñera, near Sésamo, is a site of schematic rock art dating from the period after the Palaeolithic. The rock paintings have not been precisely dated; their chronology ranges from the Chalcolithic to the Iron Age. The site comprises several groups of images in rock shelters, as well as individual depictions between the groups.
The walk “Un paseo por las pinturas rupestres de Sésamo” is of archaeological, landscape and geomorphological interest. These three perspectives complement one another: the rock art is the archaeological focus, while the landscape and geomorphology draw attention to the natural form of the surroundings.
The Peña Piñera route starts and ends at the car park on the LE-4211 road in Sésamo. Trail conditions may vary; check them before setting out. From Vega de Espinareda, you can reach the rock paintings by road. At the entrance to Sésamo, a road branches off to the left towards the paintings; the route then continues along an unpaved section. Signage and road conditions may change, so check the route before travelling there.
Castro Piñera
Castro Piñera offers a different archaeological focus. It occupies a central position and controls access to the valleys of Ancares and Fornela. It covers more than 10 hectares, and its walls extend for approximately 2 kilometres in total. Archaeological materials, mainly metal, suggest that the Castro was inhabited in the 1st century AD.
The comparison highlights the different themes: at Peña Piñera, the focus is on the groups of images and the uncertain dating of the rock paintings; at Castro Piñera, it is on the strategic location, the site’s extent and the archaeological evidence of earlier settlement.
Landscape and Local Festivals
Las Devesas is a natural area in Sésamo with rich flora and fauna. The La Peña viewpoint offers views of the surrounding natural landscape. The two places have different focuses: Las Devesas is known for its flora and fauna, while La Peña offers views across the landscape. This gives nature its own place in your travel plans alongside the area’s archaeological history.
Local festivals also provide a seasonal reference. In Sésamo, Las Candelas is celebrated on 2 February and El Salvador on 6 August. If you want your trip to coincide with either festival, check the exact event dates in advance.
Sésamo in its Regional Context
The municipality of Vega de Espinareda, which includes Sésamo, is one of the four municipalities in the Reserva de la Biosfera de los Ancares Leoneses. The biosphere reserve was designated in 2006. This regional context complements Sésamo’s local themes: rock art, Castro Piñera, the natural area, the viewpoint and the two festivals offer different ways to plan your stay according to your interests.
Discover more destinations: Revilla, Noceda Del Bierzo, Valderas, Congosto, Las Murias, Castropodame, Villaseca De Laciana, Cofiñal
For the regional travel overview: León.
