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
The council of Langreo it is located in the south east of Asturias and connected by the Nalon River.
In this area you have 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 Langreo is very valuable for its industrial legacy. In the middle of XVIII and XIX century the Nalon Valley was immersed in an authentic industrial Revolution that transformed the face of the valley and its way of life. Coal mining, iron and steel production together with the development of the railways, were the basic pillars for this industrialisation process.
In Langreo you can visit a lot of this industrial heritage such as The Old Duro Felguera Works or the Urquijo District in La Felguera, San Luis Colliery in La Nueva, Fondon Colliery in Sama, Maria Luisa Colliery in Ciañu or the Iron Bridge of La Maquinilla in Sama. Also they offer different Routes around the Industrial Patrimony such as The Iron and Steel Route around La Felguera, The Route through the Sama District or the Route through the Samuño Valley.
Here you can visit the Asturias Iron and Steel Museum (MUSI) housed in the impressive cooling tower from the Old Duro Felguera Iron and Steel Works. It is also very important the Mining and Industrial Museum (MUMI) which offers a journey through the technical history of European mining, the age of steam and Asturian industrialization.
Regarding to artistic patrimony in the council of Langreo you can find the Tower of Quintana, the House of the Solis, the Church of San Esteban or the Virgin of Carbayu Home Asylum and Chapel all in Ciañu; or the chapel of Our Lady of the Carbayu in El Carbayu.
The main village of the Council of Langreo is called with the same name and there you can visit the Eduardo Urculo Municipal Art Gallery, the Armando Palacio Valdes visitors centre and the Redes Natural Park Reception and Visitors Centre or the House of the Water in the Redes Natural Park.
In the council of Langreo 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.
The council of Langreo enjoys the mountains of the Protected Area of the Cuenca Minera made up of the headwaters of the rivers Samuño, Santa Barbara and the Villoria, tributaries rivers of the River Nalon. There are many Walking Routes in the council such as the Circular Route of Ciañu, the Peña Villa Ascent, the Braña Walk, The Llantamartin Route, or the Mills Route among others.
In this area 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.
This is also a fantastic area for the practice of different sports such as walking, trekking, mountaineering, mountan 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: Langreo Tourist Office
If you want more information contact Where is Asturias at info@whereisasturias.com
Images supplied by Council of Langreo, Turismo Asturias: James Seoane Argüelles and Manuel Ángel Suárez Calvo.