Fall in Love with  Picos de Europa

Liébana Route | From Unquera to Fuente Dé | Approx. distance: 90 km

Setting off from La Casona de los Güelitos, head towards Puente San Miguel and take the A-8 towards Oviedo until you reach Unquera, where this unforgettable route begins. From here, the journey will take you through the Hermida Gorge (Desfiladero de La Hermida), La Hermida, Lebeña, Piasca, Potes, Mogrovejo, Espinama, and finally Fuente Dé.

Nestled between the Cantabrian Mountains and the Picos de Europa, the unique region of Liébana offers breathtaking landscapes shaped by its distinctive geography, climate, and flora—quite different from the rest of Cantabria.

This route stands out for the authentic charm of its villages and its rich historical and artistic heritage. It connects the sea with the high peaks of the Picos de Europa, winding through dramatic gorges and scenic mountain roads.

Unquera, marking the boundary between Asturias and Cantabria at the Tina Mayor Estuary, is a must-stop to taste its famous pastries, “corbatas,” and, in season, baby eels. After a brief stretch through Asturias, the route returns to Cantabria and enters the impressive Hermida Gorge.

This natural gateway to Liébana is a 20 km canyon carved by the Deva River through limestone rock, reaching depths of up to 600 meters. From Urdón, within the gorge, begins the mountain path to Tresviso, a village renowned for its Picón cheese.

Within the gorge lies La Hermida, a starting point towards the Lamasón Valley and Bejes, known—along with Tresviso—for the Bejes-Tresviso cheese designation of origin. Continuing on, you will reach the small village of Lebeña, home to the 10th-century Mozarabic Church of Santa María. Passing through Frama and Cabezón de Liébana, you will arrive at Piasca, where the Romanesque Monastery of Santa María still stands.

A key stop is Potes, the main town of the region, where you can visit the Infantado Tower and the Orejón de la Lama Tower, then cross the bridge over the Quiviesa River into the medieval old quarter. The town is full of traditional houses and charming streets that invite you to wander.

Less than a kilometer away is the Monastery of Santo Toribio, a Gothic building housing the Lignum Crucis, believed to be the largest remaining fragment of the Cross of Christ. It is an important pilgrimage site, alongside Rome, Jerusalem, Caravaca de la Cruz, and Santiago de Compostela, and celebrates the Jubilee Year.

Before reaching Fuente Dé, you will pass through Mogrovejo, one of the most beautiful and best-preserved villages in Liébana. Fuente Dé itself is an ancient glacial cirque at the base of the central massif of the Picos de Europa. From here, you can take the cable car up to 1,850 meters and enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the mountains and valleys.

Gastronomy

Thanks to its microclimate, this region boasts a rich culinary tradition. Its signature dish is the cocido lebaniego, a hearty chickpea stew. The area also produces excellent honey, fruit, nuts, and the well-known orujo liqueur. Game meats such as wild boar and venison are also popular, but above all, the region stands out for its strong cheese-making tradition.

There is even a protected designation of origin, featuring cheeses such as quesucos de Liébana and Picón de Bejes-Tresviso. Don’t miss the chance to taste these local products at the traditional market held every Monday in Potes.