Essential

Picos de Europa National Park, the high Atlantic mountain range

Liébana is home to an extensive portion of the Picos de Europa National Park, the oldest in Spain and a paradise for lovers of ecotourism, mountaineering, climbing and hiking. Here, the limestone peaks rise majestically to 2,600 meters above sea level, forming an extensive karst massif cut by deep valleys. The grandiose cirque of Fuente Dé with limestone cliffs of 800 meters protects the source of the Deva river that gathers the waters of the valleys of Cereceda, Quiviesa and Bullón, to perforate 21 kilometers of limestone in the gorge of La Hermida.

Liébana is a sample of the complex geology of the Cantabrian mountain range. Its old mines bear witness to its mineral wealth, exploited until a few years ago. Remains of its mining past can be visited to understand the harsh conditions of blende extraction.

In the Picos de Europa you can feel the wildlife of northern Spain, with some of the most emblematic species of fauna such as the brown bear, the Iberian wolf, the bearded vulture, the wildcat or the otter.s or the otter; a great diversity of alpine birds such as the wallcreeper, the accentor, the alpine sparrow, the bluethroat; or a flourishing range of grasslands that support a great diversity of butterflies.

The valley of Liébana and its 96 villages

The valley of Liébana is a haven of peace that contrasts with the grandeur of the mountains. Its green landscapes, dotted with picturesque villages full of charm and tradition, invite you to discover the tranquility and authentic rural flavor of Cantabria. Every corner of this valley holds a history and tradition that enrich the trip, offering the visitor a genuine connection with rural life.

Cabezón de Liébana, Camaleño, Cillorigo de Liébana, Pesaguero, Potes, Tresviso, Peñarrubia and Vega de Liébana are the eight municipalities that make up this wonderful region.

Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana, a sacred place for Christianity in the world.

The Monastery of Santo Toribio holds the Lignum Crucis, the largest known fragment of the cross of Christ. For this reason it shares ranking with Jerusalem, Rome, Santiago de Compostela and Caravaca de la Cruz. Its historical and spiritual relevance adds incomparable value to any route that passes through this sacred place, making it an unavoidable destination for travelers. The monastery and the hermitage complex that surrounds it is one of the main pilgrimage centers in Spain.

Beato de Liébana, the artist theologian

This erudite monk was an artist as evidenced by the illustrations of his religious commentaries in his books called beatos. He made history in Christianity in northern Spain by promoting the figure of St. James and paving the way for the Camino de Santiago. Famous was the debate he had with the archbishop of Toledo whom he accused of heresy for defending adoptionism.

The Lebaniego Way, pilgrimage and ecotourism

This ancient pilgrimage route, which connects the Camino de Santiago with the Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana, is much more than a spiritual route. It is a journey through lush forests, charming villages and spectacular landscapes, where each step reveals the deep connection of the region with its cultural and religious past. Its route from the Cantabrian coast to Santo Toribio de Liébana is a journey through the mixed forests of the hilly floor, the Cantabrian holm oak groves, the Atlantic oak groves, the brañas with their winter pastures for livestock and the rural essence of Cantabria.

The towns and villages of Liébana, a glimpse of rural Cantabria

- Potes is the capital and its name alludes to the bridges over the Deva river linking the medieval neighborhoods, today with its lively atmosphere to stroll through its cobbled streets and enjoy the incomparable setting of the eastern massif of Picos de Europa, and lebaniega gastronomy in its emblematic kitchens.

- Cillorigo de Liébana is the exit and entrance to the gorge of La Hermida, shared with Peñarrubia, both framed by dizzying slopes of white and gray peaks that protect the entrance to Liébana. The via ferratas and ravines of the gorge are the attractions for active tourism. The trails of the Bedoya valley show us hidden corners where time seems to stand still. The Habario de Pendes with its centenary chestnut trees and its livestock herds that connect with Bejes.

- Camaleño is the alpine essence of Liébana, under the eastern massif of the Picos de Europa, with postcard villages like Mogrovejo, or legendary villages like Cosgaya with King Pelayo and the defeat of the Muslim army that dared to cross the Picos de Europa. Its villages perched on the sunny slopes of the Picos de Europa invite you to explore them. The valley of Camaleño leads to Fuente Dé and gives access to the high mountains. Its trails connect with the central massif of Picos de Europa. The Áliva passes divide the Picos and allow access to the Asturian part of the national park.

- Tresviso is the most remote village of Cantabria and the Picos de Europa, accessible on foot by the Urdón river trail, one of the most important routes for mountain climbers, and one of the few places in the Picos de Europa.It is one of the few places that still maintains important flocks of sheep and goats that supply the cheese factories with the Picón de Bejes cheese denomination of origin.

- In Cabezón de Liébana, history, tradition and the value of the artistic and cultural heritage share the limelight with the natural and scenic wealth of its beech, oak and holm oak forests on the hills of the Sierra de Peña Sagra. The cork oaks and strawberry trees evidence the Mediterranean character of its sunny slopes.

- Vega de Liébana links the landscapes of the Cantabrian mountain range, through holm oak, oak and beech forests where the brown bear lives, and invites you to discover the Pineda passes, where you can contemplate the highest peaks of the entire Cantabrian mountain range and observe its glacial remains with small lakes. It borders with the neighboring Mountain of Riaño, through forests where the Iberian wolf, deer, roe deer and wild boars take refuge.

- Pesaguero extends a tapestry of oak and beech trees, where the brown bear and other species of fauna such as the wolf and the wild cat are kept. Its oak and beech forests alternate with limestone peaks, meadows, heaths and scrublands, home to a variety of picidae and forest birds. Flanked by the Sierra de Peña Sagra and the peaks that link with the neighboring natural park of Montaña Palentina, it is one of the least walked corners of the Cantabrian mountain range.

Fuente Dé, the entrance to the high mountain

For an unforgettable experience, take the Fuente Dé cable car, which will take you up to 1,823 meters high. From its viewpoint in the Picos de Europa, you can see the forests that cover the Cantabrian Mountains to the south. The cable car gives access to the high mountain and the trails that cross the Picos de Europa to Asturias and León. From the cirque of Fuente Dé you can access emblematic trails of Picos de Europa such as Horcados Rojos or alpine ascents.

Getting to Tresviso

It is to visit the most remote village of Picos de Europa. One of the most attractive hikes that starts from Urdón in the gorge of La Hermida to the village of Tresviso, famous for its Picón cheese. The physical demand of the route is rewarded with spectacular views and the feeling of having reached a unique corner.

Sierra de Peña Sagra, the mountains that surround Liébana.

For hikers seeking solitude, the ascent to Peña Sagra offers less traveled, but equally impressive wooded landscapes. From its summits, it is possible to enjoy spectacular views of the valley, the neighboring Alto Nansa region and the Picos de Europa in the distance, ideal for those seeking a challenge and an intimate contact with nature.

Los Puertos de Áliva, the passage to Asturias

This medium-difficulty route connects Fuente Dé with Espinama through alpine meadows and mountain passes. The views of the Picos de Europa and the high mountain scenery make it a unique experience for hiking enthusiasts seeking a combination of adventure and natural beauty.