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GREEN COAST

COMMUNITIES AND COUNCILS PHOTOS

The council and town of Vegadeo

by Admin

The fishing town of Vegadeo is situated at the west of Asturias in the Mancomunidad de Oscos-Eo and borders with the Community of Galicia . The town is less than two hours from the beautiful cities of Oviedo in Asturias and La Coruña in Galicia. It’s closest Airport is Asturias. From the town you can access many amazing beaches both in Asturias and Galicia.

Vegadeo and the neighbouring town of Ribadeo (Galicia) is divided by the estuary of the River Eo and together they offer some amazing and picturesque coastal scenery. The Estuary of the Eo River has been declared a Partial Natural Reserve for its marine ecosystem and because it is one of the most important wetlands in the North of Spain for its concentration of birdlife and waterfowl making it an ideal place for ornithologists to visit.

Its proximity with Galicia makes the architecture of Vegadeo a mixture of both Asturian and Galician styles, with stone structures and slate roofs. The traditional Asturian food stores or “horreos” can be seen side by side with the traditional Galician Style Barns. These buildings, usually constructed near the main house, were designed to store meats and vegetables.

Some of the best representations of the Celts and Celtic culture can be found in and around the town and can seen in the carvings and designs on the old buildings and food stores.

Around the middle Ages the nobility and clergy controlled and governed the area and left testimonies to their existence by way of Palaces, Large Stately Houses, chapels and sanctuaries. You will also find many examples of this throughout the enchanting small fishing towns and inland country hamlets.

Vegadeo is a part of the «Northern Route« of the «Route of Saint James» and also you can enjoy “The Black Market Route”, which is part of the Walk of Santiago. This Route starts in the town of Louteiro and follows the steps used in the old times by Jacobean pilgrims and black marketers travelling alongside the river Eo. The walk passes through the pier at Abres and the Castle of The Pividal.

There are also other walking routes like “The Route of the 12 bridges” as well as a Car Route called “The Route of the Palaces”.

Vegadeo is in close proximity to the Mountains of the Oscos and the fantastic beaches of Asturias such as Peñaronda, declared a Natural Monument. It is also close to the Galician besches such as the very popular and beautiful Cathedral beach so called because of its rocky likeness to the drawings of a Cathedral.

In Vegadeo you can partake in lots of outdoor sports and activities the most popular been Canoeing and Cycling.

The local gastronomy is a mixture of traditional Asturian and Galician food but the dish most popular is Octopus or “Pulpo” cooked to perfection and served on a bed of boiled potatoes. The way the octopus is prepared and the outdoor restaurants that serve it have become one of the main tourist attractions of the town. The selection of drinks on offer are either traditional Asturian cider and Galician Ribeiro or Alvariño wine which go perfectly seafood. Being a coastal town you can also find amazing razor fish, clams and very good oysters!

Celtic Music plays a big part in the town and people come from all over the globe to celebrate the “Celtic Night” festival at the beginning of August. The festival attracts those who love Celtic Music, Gastronomy and street parties. This party was originally the idea of an Asturian sailor who many years ago witnessed the New Orleans Mardi Gras and decided to try it in Vegadeo but with a more Celtic twist.

Note: The word Mancomunidad roughly translates as “shared management” in English.

More info: Vegadeo Tourist Office

If you want more information contact Where is Asturias at info@whereisasturias.com

Images supplied by Tomás Fano.

COMMUNITIES AND COUNCILS PHOTOS

The council and town of Belmonte de Miranda

by Admin

The Council of Belmonte de Miranda is part of the Camín Real de la Mesa (The Mesa King’s Highway).This route is Pre-Romanic in origin and, up to 19th century, it was one of the busiest routes between Asturias and the central plains of Spain, connecting with the well-known Route of the Silver. You can still find the original Roman Pavements as the route winds its way through hills, meadows and along the Rivers Narcea and Pigueña.

It is well located at the South-centre of Asturias, in the middle of breath-taking mountains, and less than 40 minutes from the city of Oviedo, the airport of Asturias, and the beautiful beaches of Castrillón or the West of Asturias.

Belmonte de Miranda is an area rich in geological resources and was famed for gold extraction even before the Romans Conquered of the Peninsula. Here you can find the Gold Hall where you can learn everything about the precious metal and its impact in the area, and there are several activities related to the gold panning. You can also follow the archaeological Route of Belmonte through the mining exploitations where you can visit the Roman Forge of “El Machucu” which was declared of Cultural Interest and it had been working since the 18th century. The old hydroelectric central of Selviella offers a great reminder of the industrial past of the county. Nowadays it serves as touristic apartments.

Its proximity to the forest and the amazing mountains of Somiedo makes Belmonte de Miranda the “Home of the Wolf”, an interpretation centre where can find out everything about this wonderful and highly timid creature. In the future you can also visit the district of the wolves which is a large enclosed space where you can observe the wolves in their natural habitat, although is not open yet.

In Belmonte de Miranda there are many Routes running through the mountains, valleys and enchanting country towns. One of them is the Route around the Brañas Vaqueiras, which follows the steps of the cattle herds to the high mountain pastures. Another one is the Route of Salmones Arriba, which goes up the course of the river Pigüeña following the way of the salmons to the place where they lay their eggs.

Being in the riverbed of some of the most important fishing rivers in Asturias, Belmonte de Miranda is also a fishing paradise. The Miranda river has some of the most important salmon preserves in the world. Through the county run the rivers Narcea and its tributary the Pigüeña, both very rich in trout and salmon schools.

The Gastronomy of the area is classically Asturian providing very nice seasonal vegetables, stews, Asturian reared beef and nice fish from the rivers or sea and also a nice selection of desserts and cheeses. Belmonte de Miranda is one of the few places where you can still taste “pan de escanda” or spelt wheat bread, and ancient style bread only found in some parts of Asturias and Asia.

If you want to know more about the Camín Real de la Mesa you can read this article written by Paul Richardson for the English newspaper The Guardian: Secrets of Spain on a road less travelled.

More info: Belmonte de Miranda Tourist Office

If you want more information contact Where is Asturias at info@whereisasturias.com

Images supplied by Ayto de Belmonte de Miranda, Turismo Asturias: Arnaud Spani and Camilo Alonso.

COMMUNITIES AND COUNCILS PHOTOS

The council and town of Degaña (Degana)

by Admin

The Council of Degaña is a part of the Fuentes Del Narcea Region located in the south west of Asturias. This area is the largest protected area in Asturias and a member of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves which includes Fuentes Del Narcea, Degaña and Ibias Natural Park, the Integral Natural Reserve of Muniellos and the Cueto Arbas Partial Natural Reserve.

You will find many traces of megalithic burial structures, tumuli and dolmens throughout the area especially in Seroiro, Pradías, Andeo and Vilares de Arriba. The area is also historically connected to the gold mining industry heralding from Roman times and the production of wine which was introduced by the Benedictine Monks in the medieval times.

The more southerly location of this area bordering with Leon and Galicia make the terrain ideal for the production of wine and is still one of their main industries. Also, it is the only winemaking area in Asturias. The beautiful landscapes are full of grapevines that produce young light wines with big personalities that have been awarded with protected geographical status and stamped origin denomination “Vino de Calidad de Cangas” (Quality Wine from the land of Cangas). These wines are highly regarded and go perfectly with the region’s gastronomy.

Other interesting and historic remnants are the religious and nobility architecture of Palaces and large stately homes highlighting the wealth of the area throughout the ages.

The council of Degaña is surrounded by the magical forest of Muniellos which was declared UNESCO Biosphere Reserve for its vast ecological value. Here you will find a mixture of European Beech and Oak trees intermingled with Silver-Birch, Hazel, Ash, ancient Yew and Holly and offering a wonderful palette of colour and beauty through the seasons. The area also boasts to six glacial lakes and is also home to bears and Capercaillies (A Type of Grouse) as well as wildlife like Wolfs, Roe deer, Wild Boar, Chamois and Otters. Due to the importance of this forest and the controls surrounding the ecosystem there are only 20 people allowed to visit the area a day so if you want to visit you had to ask for permit……. well in advance.

Around the area of Degaña you will also find the Natural Park of Fuentes Del Narcea, which has one of the most diverse ranges of fauna in the North of Spain.

The council and surrounds of Degaña is the land of the “Cunqueiros” which are craftsmen who specialized in making wooden tools and vessels. You will see the importance of this trade in the Collection of Tixileiru and El Cunqueiru Corner. Degaña has a very important ethnographic value like the zone of Casa Florencio in Cerredo and the towns of Tablado and Rebollar. You can also visit the Church of Santa Maria which is considered to be of Cultural Interest.

Degaña is also famous for the production of honey. The area is full of beehives, old tools and methods for beekeeping and buildings designed to protect them from fires and bears.

There are many walking routes to do such as The Lakes of Trabau, The Lake of Changreiro, The Lakes of Frasgueo, The Lakes of Chagueño and the very popular Senda Moura where you can visit the site of El Corralin.

The Gastronomy of Degaña is typically Asturian offering stews (especially the popular cabbage stew), Asturian reared beef; fish from their rivers, local cold meats like the very popular “charcuteria”, crusty country bread and classical Asturian desserts. This area is very popular for fruits of the forest: dried nuts in winter and plump berries in summer. Of course, everything should be washed down with the fantastic Wine of Cangas (Vino de Calidad de Cangas).

More info: Degaña Tourist Office

If you want more information contact Where is Asturias at info@whereisasturias.com

Images supplied by Tomás Fano, Ayto de Degaña, Fuentes Del Narcea Region and Turismo Asturias: Camilo Alonso.

COMMUNITIES AND COUNCILS PHOTOS

The council of Sobrescobio and Rioseco

by Admin

This area is a part of the Mancomunidad of the Nalon Valley formed by the councils of Langreo, San Martin del Rey Aurelio, Laviana, Sobrescobio and Caso. It is located in the south east of Asturias and connected by the Nalon River.

In this area there are two main protected landscapes; the first one is the wonderful natural landscapes of the Redes Natural Park which is a Biosphere Reserve in Sobrescobio and Caso. The second one is the Protected Landscapes of the Mining Basins in Langreo, San Martin del Rey Aurelio and Laviana.

The area of Sobrescobio is a part of the Natural Park of Redes, one of the most valued natural spaces in Asturias that has been declared as a Wold Biosphere Reserve. An area of water, woods, peaks and village have lived mainly from agriculture and raising livestock.

The Natural Park of Redes belongs to the Nature 2000 network, it is considered a Place of Community Importance and it is also a Special Protection Place for Birds (ZEPA). It was also awarded with the Q certification in 2005 for tourism quality.

The fauna and flora of this park are very rich including several protected species like the holly and yew or the Brown Bear and the capercaillie both under threat of extinction.

Inside the Redes Park you can find three natural Monuments: The Alba Route with cascades and waterfalls along the whole route. The Tabayón del Mongayu, a spectacular waterfall originating in the Riega del Mongayu and the Deboyu cave: a kast cavity excavated by the River Nalon as it passes through the locality of Les Yanes.

As regard the patrimony in the council of Sobrescobio you can find examples of industrial patrimony such as Tanes Power Station in Rioseco or artistic heritage such as The Tower of Villamorey, the Bridge of Soto de Agues, the House of the Canella in Soto de Agues, the Church of San Pedro in Ladines or The Church of San Andres.

In the council of Sobrescobio you can also find a large representation of ethnographic patrimony through traditional housing, stables and barns, horreos and paneras, grinding mills, public springs, washing places and animal troughs.

In Sobrescobio you can practice a wide range of activities according to the season, fishing and hunting are two of the most deeply rooted in the Valley. In autumn you can listen the sounds of braying deer. Also the reservoirs of Tanes and Rioseco are a unique situation for bird watching, especially at Rioseco where there are two purpose-built observation posts.

There are many Walking Routes in the council such as The Route of the Roman Walk, The Route of de Colla de Isornu, The Route of the Sierra del Crespón, The Route of the Castañeru Montes or the Route of Picu Xamoca among others.

This is also a fantastic area for the practice of different sports such as walking, trekking, mountaineering, mountain biking, rock and ice climbing, horse riding, cycling and Nordic Skiing.

The other main attraction of the area is the Gastronomy enjoying Asturias traditional food based in Stews, Asturias beef, fish from the rivers, local Asturias sweets. But the star of the region is the high Nalon trout, the Casin Cheese, one of the oldest in Spain, and the Nalón whispers which are exquisite butter pastries.

More info: Sobrescobio Tourist Office

If you want more information contact Where is Asturias at info@whereisasturias.com