Cultural heritage
Reflection of the local history and way of life.
Rural architecture, tells the story of living history and sustainable traditions.
The rural architecture of a territory reveals both the way of life of its inhabitants and the traditional use of the resources of the environment as well as its history. Thus, stone, wood or clay are protagonists in this territory.
The varied typology of traditional dwellings is an attraction to be discovered at any time of the year.
Attics, wooden corridors, stables, corrals, barns or ovens for curing sausage from the slaughter tell us about sustainablelifestyles and local customs. Another hallmark of the destination are the hórreos as in Prioro, with one of the largest concentrations in the province of León, or the hórreo de las Bodas, one of the most archaic and unique of the peninsula.
The "cañadas reales" have also left their mark, which since the 12th century have been the path of the transhumant herds of sheep to the mountains, shaping the landscape and having a great environmental and socio-economic impact on the territory.
The sheepfolds, the shepherds' huts, the wolves' huts and the water mills dot the mountain, while in Espejos de la Reina the only fulling mill of the tourist destination is preserved.
Historical ensembles
You should not miss the parish church of Lois known as the "Cathedral of the Mountain", singular for its construction in red marble or the Monastery of San Miguel de Escalada and the rest of the Romanesque complex of Gradefes, both declared Sites of Cultural Interest (B.I.C.).
Interpretation Centers and Museums.
To connect with the territory, there is nothing better than visiting these facilities that inform and try to guarantee the memory and conservation of the natural and ethnographic environment of this territory.
Among them are the Steel and Mining Museum of Castilla y León, the Gallo Museum or the Railway Museum, without forgetting the ethnographic ones that take us to the past of the territory.
Private initiatives such as the "Arboretum" of Lugán are part of the local legacy. This plant reservoir is a scientific and cultural dissemination project that can be visited.
In the Montaña de Riaño y Mampodre Regional Park, the so-called Casas del Parque (Park Houses) provide information on the natural and cultural heritage of the area and offer information on lodging, places to eat and activities available at any time of the year. The Picos de Europa National Park has its Visitor Interpretation Centers in Oseja de Sajambre and Posada de Valdeón.
In Soto de Sajambre the old school "de primeras letras", built by an indiano in the early twentieth century, will immerse us in an educational environment advanced for its time. The Wildlife Museum of Valdehuesa brings us closer to natural resources from remote places.
Gastronomy
Among the typical dishes of the area are stews such as Cocido Leonés, Sopas de Ajo, Sopa de Truchas, Cocido de Arvejos and Chanfaina. You can also taste meats, sausages, cheeses or honey of local origin.
We can take home typical products of the territory, some of them with Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) such as cecina de León or Valdeón cheese.
Eco-Pilgrimage
Riaño Mountain is crossed from north to south and from east to west by two of the Roads to Santiago, the Vadinian Route and the Forgotten Way. Traveling these roads is much more than a physical journey; it is an opportunity to reflect and connect with our relationship with the environment and the need to preserve local natural resources, two roads that offer us the opportunity to make a sustainable and respectful tourism with the environment, creating an "Eco-Religious" experience where ecotourism and spirituality are combined.