Located in the Principality of Asturias, the municipality of Cabrales is one of the most beautiful places you can visit. Its location among the mountains of the Picos de Europa has shaped its human and natural history over the centuries.
One of the most iconic products of Cabrales is the famous cheese and its distinctive, intense flavour. It occupies pride of place in a gastronomic offering characterised by contrasts.
The area is divided into nine parishes: Las Arenas, Carreña, Bulnes, Berodia, Poo, Prado, Puertas, Sotres and Tielve, and these parishes are subdivided into 18 population centres. The capital of Cabrales is Carreña.
The area has a lot of tourist attractions. We recommend that you study the map carefully, to avoid missing out on any of the highlights.
What to see in Cabrales
If we start with the typical villages, we have to begin with Arenas de Cabrales. This, above all others, receives the most tourism to the extent that many people (wrongly) believe it to be the capital. It is the gateway to the Picos de Europa and boasts a very welcoming town centre where you can see the traditional architecture of the area. Would you like to relax in this town? An ideal option are the rustic cabins in the area, set in natural spaces, if you visit during the fiestas that are celebrated at the end of June in honour of San Juan and San Pedro.
Sotres is another village that you shouldn’t miss. As the highest village in the area, the views from any of its streets and lookouts are impressive, like something out of a book of postcards.
Carreña, which is the capital, is another must-visit destination. Its highlights include the chapel of the Virgen de la Salud and the procession to the altar that takes place every year at the beginning of September. During this festive season, we recommend that you enjoy the sights and sounds by staying for a few days in one of the holiday cottages available.
Bulnes is another unmissable destination for tourists, due to its isolation and magical charm. To get to Bulnes, you have to catch the funicular railway that links this village with Poncebos. The views that open up below you as you ascend are marvellous. Bulnes also stands out because it’s the basecam of the famous Naranjo de Bulnes or Pico Urriellu, a rocky spire which is a point of pilgrimage for mountain sports enthusiasts.
Of course, any visit must also take in the local gastronomy. Cabrales cheese, famous throughout Europe, is produced here and has put the region on the culinary map. It is a cheese that’s full of character as it is matured naturally in caves with the help of the penicillium fungus. It’s this agent that gives it its recognisable colour and flavour.
In fact, during the annual festivities, you will be able to try all the typical food of Cabrales. If there’s one event that encapsulates the spirit of the region, it’s the Cabrales Cheese Contest, which is held in August. This is a perfect time to travel here for an escape in the mountains, staying in a rural hotel in this charming area of Asturias.
How to get here? If you want to visit the area, the best option is to come by car along the main road through the area which connects the main population centres.
