For lovers of nature and tranquillity, Cantabria is a must-see destination. Today we make a short stop in the most beautiful villages of Cantabria. Places that you can take as a reference when making your next trip.
10 Most Beautiful Villages in Cantabria
San Vicente de la Barquera
This seaside village is located in the centre of the Oyambre Natural Park one of the most ecologically valuable natural areas in Spain. In addition to excellent beaches and a rich nature, San Vicente de la Barquera has a great heritage of monuments. Historically it is also a relevant area so it is an obligatory stop for those who visit Cantabria.
Santillana del Mar
This is known as the town of the three lies. It is said that it is neither Santa, nor is it flat, nor does it have a sea. Sound familiar? Apart from being one of the most beautiful villages in Cantabria it is also one of the most popular and is very popular in summer. It has the Collegiate Church of Santa Juliana one of the most beautiful.
Santillana del Mar is lined with cobbled streets where you feel like getting lost. On your way you will find dream houses and balconies that will invite you to take pictures. Near this beautiful village you will find the Museum of Altamira, which is a replica of the famous Altamira Cave where you can see all the traces and drawings that make it so popular.
Potes
The town of Potes is the capital of Liébana and is located about 290 meters above sea level next to the Peaks of Europe and at the base of the Arabedes mountain. In this place four beautiful valleys crossed by the Quiviesa river meet. With this description it is not difficult to imagine why it is one of the most beautiful villages in Cantabria and why it is interesting to stop and visit it. It is considered a Historic Site.
Comillas
Comillas has a superb nature and also some of the best beaches of fine sand in Spain, hence it is a tourist place since the nineteenth century where the privileged holidaymakers built buildings of a particular modernist style. In this town we can find several points of interest such as the Gaudi’s whim (a modernist palace created by the famous Catalan artist), the Fountain of the Three Spouts, the Palace of Sobrellano and the Cemetery of San Cristobal. Comillas is part of the territory of the Oyambre Natural Park.
Barcena Mayor
It is one of the oldest villages in Spain and also one of the best preserved. It is a historic-artistic site of great value for the tourist that is located in the Saja Valley, an area that will delight lovers of outdoor activities for the many possibilities it offers. The voices say that they eat there one of the best stews in Cantabria, so you have to try it, right?
Castro Urdiales
Here is another of the most beautiful villages of Cantabria that we can not miss. In fact, it is another fishing village located on the eastern coast of the region. This municipality is located by the sea and surrounded by a series of fascinating mountains such as the Peña de Satullán and Mount Cerredo. Here the river Agüera flows into the Oriñón estuary, which divides the town into two parts. Although other rivers like the Sabiote or the Sálamo also flow through it. All these elements, together with others of an architectural nature such as the Church of Santa María de la Asunción, recognised as a National Monument in 1931, have made Castro of Urdiales a protected space that you will love to visit. In addition, Castro Urdiales is one of the most renowned villages in the The North Way.
Cartes
Cartes is one of the most beautiful villages in Cantabria for walking. This village is very close to Torrelavega and has an interesting historic quarter where the Torreón de Cartes, a fortified mansion on the main street of the town, stands out. As you walk through this village you will be enchanted by the atmosphere of mountain houses, plants and flowers that the villagers grow.
Laredo
Laredo is, of all the pretty villages in Cantabria, the one with the largest marina. It is a seaside town with a spectacular landscape that is composed of the estuary of Treto and the bay of Santoña. But, in addition to its privileged nature, it also has an artistic and historical site of great value that deserves a leisurely visit. The great beach of La Salvé also stands out in Laredo.
Carmona
Carmona is a beautiful and traditional town. Thanks to its great architectural preservation, it has been considered a Historic-Artistic Site. Its location is very advantageous as it is in the Valley of Cabuérniga, a place of great beauty. Its wide variety of mansions and wooden balconies are a delight for visitors. Wood crafts are very traditional in the area, so you can take advantage of this opportunity to take home a special souvenir.
Cabezón de la Sal
Cabezón de la Sal was a historical area of passage in the well-known Tuta de los Foromontados, one of the most travelled during the first repopulation of Castile in the High Middle Ages. The name of this town refers to what was its main activity for many centuries: the extraction of salt. It is also one of the most historic towns in Cantabria and is home to a varied historical, cultural and artistic heritage. The Casa- Palacio de Carrejo, which is nowadays used as the Cantabrian Museum of Nature, and the Church of San Lorenzo stand out. So does the prehistoric site of Cabrojo, which dates back to the Bronze Age.
This small tour that we have made includes the most beautiful villages of Cantabria and also the most popular ones. But if you have more time to visit the area you can find others highly recommended such as Mogrovejo, Vega de Pas, Cahecho, Noja, Puente Viesgo, Cosío or Liencres. If there’s one thing you won’t be short of in Cantabria it’s beautiful places to see, for some reason it’s one of the most visited places in Spain.
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