9 Cantabrian villages for an idyllic getaway
• Fascinating Spain
• Cantabria
We can highlight9 of these mountain villages in Cantabriawhere you can spend the day, take lots of pictures and do a bit of sightseeing as well. Maybe even stay for a longer. In addition toSantanderand someincredible beaches,Cantabriais a region with a lot of mountains where there are many villages full of charm andspectacular landscapes.
9 mountain villages in Cantabria to find peace
Carmona. | Shutterstock
9 mountain villages in Cantabria to find peace
Carmona
Carmona. | Shutterstock
Santillana del Mar. | Shutterstock
Carmonais one of the most beautiful villages in Cantabria for several reasons. First, it has a privileged location, asit is in the middle of the Cabuérniga Valley and very close to the river Nansa. Thus, it allows you to see landscapes of different shades of green that are truly incredible from any point in the town.
On the other hand, itsarchitectural heritage, with its mountain-style mansions and wooden balconies, is so well preserved thatit has been declared a Historic-Artistic Site. As for its people, they are dedicated to livestock farming and wood craftsmanship, especially in the manufacture of footwear called albarcas. It is, in general, one of the most beautiful mountain villages in Spain.
Santillana del Mar
Santillana del Mar. | Shutterstock
Cabezón de la Sal. | Shutterstock
Santillana del Maris one of the most famous villages in the region. Some of the most outstanding monuments in this town are theCollegiate Church of Santa Juliana, the Palace of Mijares and the Palace of Viceda. It is always a good idea to take advantage of your visit to taste the local gastronomy.
However, there is one place on the outskirts of the village, a couple of kilometers away, which stands out above the rest: the AltamiraCaves. In this cave, whose Sala de los Polícromos has been declared a World Heritage Site, you will findcave paintings that are between 14,000 and 16,500 years old. Although the original cave is not open to visitors, the Neocave in the Altamira Museum is open to the public.
Cabezón de la Sal
Cabezón de la Sal. | Shutterstock
Potes. | Shutterstock
As you can imagine from the name of the village,Cabezón de la Salis a town thathas historically been dedicated to the extraction of salt. As for its heritage, its most outstanding buildings are the Casa-Palacio de Carrejo and the Church of San Lorenzo.
Also, it is important to mention the prehistoric site of Cabrojo, with sandstone engravings dating from the Bronze Age. Regarding nature,it has a very interesting location for hiking enthusiasts. It is right in the heart of the Saja-BesayaNature Reserveand just three minutes from the National Monument of the Sequoias.
Potes
Potes. | Shutterstock
Cahecho. | Shutterstock
Potesis known for being the placewhere the medieval fights between the Mendoza and Manrique families took place. Moreover, it is located right at the point where the rivers Quiviesa, Deva and Bullón meet and in the middle of the four valleys of the region.
It is a villagefull of medieval buildings, such as the Torre del Infantado, the Torre de la Lama, the Puente de San Cayetano and the Puente de la Cárcel. In recent years it has grown economically due to the great amount of tourists who visit it to lose themselves in itscobbled streets.
Cahecho
Cahecho. | Shutterstock
Mogrovejo. | Shutterstock
With a population of just 49 inhabitants, Cahecho is not one of the most famous villages in Cantabria, but it is a place well worth a visit. Its views are so incredible that it is known for being the viewpoint of thePicos de Europa, making itan ideal place to take pictures.
As for its heritage, it is a very picturesque town full of stone and wooden houses. Its most outstanding monument is the 16th-centuryGothic churchof Nuestra Señora de la Asunción. Cahecho is undoubtedlyone of the great destinations for a rural tourism getaway in northern Spain.
Mogrovejo
Mogrovejo. | Shutterstock
Bárcena Mayor. | Shutterstock
Mogrovejo has been declared an Asset ofCultural Interestand Historic Site. This is due to its ashlar and masonry houses with wrought iron balconies, which make thisone of the most picturesque mountain villages in Cantabria. Monuments worth a visit include the Tower of Mogrovejo and the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción.
Such is the charm of this mountain village thatthe film Heidi was filmed here. For this reason, since the year of the filming, 2016, Mogrovejo has been known as Heidi’s village. It also was part of TheMost Beautiful Villagesof Spain in 2020.
Bárcena Mayor
Bárcena Mayor. | Shutterstock
San Vicente de la Barquera. | Shutterstock
Located within the Saja-Besaya Natural Park,Bárcena Mayornot only stands out for the nature of its surroundings, but also the village itself has been declared a Historic-Artistic Site.Cobbled streets, rustic and traditional architecture and an old farmhouseare some of the elements that can be seen on a stroll through this pretty town.
Since 2015 it has beenpart of the select club of The Most Beautiful Villages of Spain, and it is no wonder given the excellent preservation of its houses and itsbalconiesfull of flowers. It is also a good place to try its famous mountain stew.
San Vicente de la Barquera
San Vicente de la Barquera
Fuente Dé. | Shutterstock
San Vicente de la Barquera. | Shutterstock
San Vicente de la Barquerais one of the few towns in Cantabria where you can take apicture of the sea and the mountains at the same time. The perfect combo for the undecided or for families who can’t agree about where to go. Furthermore, it is located in theOyambre Natural Park, with landscapes that will remain in the traveller’s memory forever.
It is a coastal town with a great popular tradition and an old town, in which the Gothic church of Santa María de los Ángeles and the Puente de Maza stand out. As forbeaches, Barnejo-Berrellín is the best known, only ten minutes away by car.
Fuente Dé
Fuente Dé. | Shutterstock
Last but not least, we must mentionFuente Dé,a village with only 7 inhabitants. And what is so interesting about such a small village? Well, it is in the middle of thePicos de Europaand from there acable cartakes you up to a height of 753 metres.
The journey takes about three and a half minutes. Theviews from the topof the cable car are breathtaking. Once there, it is up to you to decide whether you want to stay and contemplate the scenery or take one of the manyhiking routesavailable. It isone of those mountain villages in Cantabria that is well worth a visit.
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Источник: Fascinating Spain
