Spain’s hidden villages and untmed landscapes

Spain has long been associated with sun -pushed beaches, vibrant cities and world famous cuisine. While Barcelona, ​​Madrid and Ibisa are famous for a reason, the true soul of Spain is often found in its remote corners. One of the areas where I feel best is northern Spain, with its green mountain, rugged coast, and medieval villages, provides a completely different perspective. It does not get many visitors in the form of hotspots in the south, but it is equally beautiful in my opinion.

If you want to see a cool side of Spain, consider removing the general tourist trail and going north after you Flight to MadridSpend a few days in Madrid (which is amazing) and then to train with Roman to train the north for a week or more, once carving in the mountains, some travelers know to detect deserts, and have increased villages where traditions have persisted for centuries after the empires.

Today, I want to share three destinations that I like: Las Medulus, The Bardenus Real, and Sendila Dale Mar. Each of each history provides a unique mixture of natural beauty and cultural immersion, and each is quite accessible from Madrid.

1. Las Medulus

About two millenniums ago, Roman engineers changed this scenario in search of gold. Using a technique called Ruina Montium (“debris of mountains”), she broadcast water through tunnels to collapse the entire hills, showing the gold deposits of the region. The result is a real landscape of the rights red rocks, hollow, and gulos, which softens the forests of chestnut trees and is dotted with trailing footpaths. Today, Las Medulus is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a will for the permanent power of human simplicity and nature. Hiking through streets and Roman galleries, it is easy to imagine the labor and vision necessary to reopen this rugged area.

What I like is calm about Las Medulus. Even in high weather, you can find stretch of footpath where only sounds run at your footsteps and the leaves are rustled. Views from lines are spectacular, and smell of chestnuts in the air. It is a place that slows you, not only to take photos but also to drown history and peace.

Highlights and trails

• Seeda de Las Valinus (4 km loop): This gentle scars winds through shady chestnut groves and previous opening for Roman tunnels. This is perfect for an easy morning walk that still gives you a sense of the scope of the site. Stop to see rocks often; Red soil against greenery makes for striking photos.
• Mirdore de orelane: A small but vertical climb leads to a platform with a view of scarlet lines and valleys. Sunset is my favorite time here when the disappearance light changes the rocks almost orange. There is also a small gallery where you can see how the Romans dug in the rock.
• Galleria de Orelane: If you enjoy a little adventure, find this restored mining tunnel. Standing inside, you can imagine the workers who remove the earth by the tartlite.
• Seeda Perimatral (14 km loop): For committed hikers, this path surrounds the entire archaeological region. You will undergo solitude forests, small fields and topical wild boar tracks. It is tall, but not difficult, and you will often keep it with you.
• Castro de Chano: A small drive away, this pre-Roman Hilphart shows that the story of Las Medulus moves much further than the Romans.
• Mirdore de Ririgo: A low-covered lookout with a cool bench and broad view in chestnut forests and distant hills.

Practical details
where to stay: Pontferrada is only half an hour away and has a wide range of hotels and guesthouse.

Best season: Autumn for gold leaves and crisp air. Spring brings mild weather and bloom wildflivers.

tip: Bring water and a snack, especially if you plan to try hiking. The map or a GPS app will help you stick to the marked trails.

2. Bardenus real

Moving from Pamplona to the south, the landscape changes dramatically. The rolling farm gives way to dried grounds and ultimately on a semi-red of ocher mess and dramatic ravines. It is The Bardenus Reals, which is a natural park of 42,000 hectares in Navre. The location is a UNESCO biosphere reserve and an area of ​​active military use, yet the shepherds still hold their flocks in the grounds, and griffon vultures and foxes such as wildlife. The separation of the park means that you will often have most trails for yourself.

The first time I went, I was surprised how diverse the scenes were. From a distance, it looks barren, but once inside, you notice the details: waving the pattern in the soil, sticking to the hard flowers, sticking to the cracks, sometimes behind a herd -a length lamb. The spirit of space is life -threatening. It is a destination that invites wandering and rewards those who take their time.

Places and routes

• CastildeTierra: It symbolizes the slim rock peak park. Photographers love it in the morning when soft light exposes its delicate shape. Even if you are not chasing the right shot, it is worth sexing to see the shadow shift in the flats.
• La Blanca Baja Loop (34 km): A drive or bike ride with this track gives you a full tour of the central zone of the park. Prevent ignorance to praise the valley, mess, and wide basins where storms sometimes leave shallow pools.
• Piskerra and el rallón hike: This medium route climbs into the heart of Badlands. Expect the rugged paths and thrilling ideas from the top lines. Bring a lot of water, because once you leave the Terai, there is no shade.
• Balcón de pilatos: A high convenience point where the grifon wheel on hot air streams. It is an unforgettable experience to see them climbing on ravines.
• Cabezo de las cortinillas: A cool formation reached by a small track. The colors of the rocks turn into copper to copper at the base of the sun.
• Río aragón corridor: Follow the green bandage on the banks of the river for a soft side of the park. It is good for a break from birdwatching and dry heat.

Practical details
where to stay: Today is the nearest city, in which comfortable housing and excellent local restaurants serve Navra Tishtis.

Best season: For a pleasant temperature, go in spring or early autumn. Wildflowers appear after rain, adding a touch of color to the plain. Summer can be extremely hot.

tip: There are no services inside the park, so stock on water, sunscreen and snacks beforehand.

3. Santitana del kill

Sevenila Dale Mar is one of my favorite places in northern Spain. It is located in Cantibria, about 30 minutes from the coast. Its cobbled roads, well -protected medieval architecture, and attractive plazas make it one of the most picturesque villages in the region. The city also serves as the gateway to one of the most important prehistoric sites in Europe, the Altamira cave, which is famous for its peliolithic paintings. Wandering on their narrow roads is like stepping back on time, and staying overnight allows visitors to enjoy peace once after day-trippers departure.

Makes Santilana special about what it feels. Despite its ancient walls, there is nothing about it. Small bakers sell butter sobos, shopkeepers greet you as you pass, and the horses are sometimes cloping through the streets. The rhythm is untoward and hot.

Things to see and do

• Santa Juliana’s Collegiate Church: A Romankue Ratna with Seren Cloasters and complex capitals. Take out your time in search of arches and stone carving.
• Altamira cave replication: The original cave is closed to preserve art, but replication is effective. Standing under the roof of bison and horses, you get a glimpse of human creativity since 14,000 years ago.
• Museo de Altamira: A museum next to the cave that spreads over the prehistoric culture of the region. Exhibitions are attractive and family friendly.
• Plaza Mayor: The Central Square is designed by stone homes with wooden balconies. It is an ideal place for coffee or a late afternoon glass of the cider.
• Nearby trails: From the village, you can wander in the surrounding hills where grasslands meet Oak Woods. Some routes continue towards the coast, giving wide views of the Cantibian Sea.
• Quas de el souplao: A small drive away, this cave is filled with luxurious stalactites, stalagmites and unusual structures, called helicitites.
• Comillas: A neighboring city with modernist architecture, including Gowdy’s Caprichos, only 20 minutes by the car.

Practical details
getting there: Buses run from Santnder or Bilbao in about 45 minutes. Renting the car provides freedom to detect nearby coves and valleys.

Best season: Spring and autumn bring light temperatures and less crowds.

Spain The headline attractions are noticeable, yet some of its low-knowledge landscapes and some rich manifests appear. They remind us that beyond the beaches and cities of Spain, there is a country where history, geography and everyday life experiences are worth converting into experiences. Whether you are detecting Roman tunnels in Las Medulus, riding a bike across the dusty tracks of Bardenus, or sipping the cider in a cantaburien plaza, each moment spain adds a new layer to your understanding.

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