The Council of Yernes y Tameza is situated at the centre of Asturias and is well located being just 25 minutes from the city of Oviedo and less than 30 minutes from Asturias airport and also some very fine beaches.
The Council of Yernes y Tameza is in the Camino Real de la Mesa (Royal Route of the Table). This pre-Romanic route was one of the busiest routes between Asturias and the central plateau of Spain and serviced the community up to the 19th century. There are still traces of the Roman roads winding through the hills, meadows and along the River Nalon.
Yernes y Tameza is located higher in the mountains above Grado and is ethnographically interesting and with great panoramic views. Here you can find the picturesque brañas asturianas which are gorgeous meadows and pasturelands with very characteristic clusters of Stone Mountain cabins, such as El Gato and Senra.
Both councils offer amazing landscapes, forests and villages with very fertile terrain and a great farming land. It’s because of this Grado and Yernes y Tameza have become known as the market garden of Asturias supplying fresh fruit, vegetables and diary products to the entire region and beyond.
Grado has a commercial tradition from medieval times which still remains to this day. The town hosts the very popular country market on Wednesdays and especially on Sundays when farmers, craftsman and other providers sell their products in the centre of the village in a very nice, colourful and picturesque market experience.
In Grado and Yernes y Tameza there are many routes but one of the most important is the Natural Monument of the Maravio Pass. You are also less than 30 minutes away from the Route of the Bear (La Senda de Oso). The closest beaches in the area are the ones of Castrillon on the Asturian West Coast where you find many fine beaches and access multiple sporting activities. The Council of Grado is also just beside the Nalon River where you can enjoy fishing or canoeing.
The Gastronomy of Yernes y Tameza is a classic Asturian fare offering very nice vegetables, stews, Asturian reared beef and nice fish from the rivers and sea and delicious desserts. Many of the surrounding towns of Grado produce tasty organic bread called Pan d’escanda which is bread made traditionally from Spelt wheat. One of the most popular cheeses of the area is Afuega’l pitu (which translates as “choke the chicken”), which is highly regarded amongst Asturias as it goes great with cider.
If you want to know more about the Camin 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: Yernes y Tameza Tourist Office
If you want more information contact Where is Asturias at info@whereisasturias.com
Images supplied by Turismo Asturias: Camilo Alonso and Juanjo Arrojo
