Villages full of history and places to cool off, all just a short drive away.
Four stops that tell the living story of Laciana: from coal to craft beer.
Craft brewery that produces its beers using pure spring water from the Babia mountains. A tour of their brewing room and a tasting is one of the best ways to discover Laciana from a different angle.
Visit websiteA space dedicated to the Cantabrian capercaillie, the most emblematic and endangered bird in the mountain range. Panels, models and guides explain the fragile ecosystem of beech and oak forests surrounding Babia.
Visit websiteA space dedicated to the geology of the Laciana and Babia valleys. Crucial for understanding the origin of all the coal in the region.
Visit websiteA dairy with history in Laciana that produces artisanal cheeses and dairy products using milk from local cows. A must for lovers of mountain cheese.
Visit websiteA former mining shaft being converted into a cultural space dedicated to the memory of coal and the miners who shaped Laciana throughout the 20th century. A symbol of the valley's industrial history.
Visit websiteThree villages just a short drive away, each with its own story to tell.
The village
One of Babia's most emblematic villages, watched over by its tower and the church of San Vicente.
Walk
An excellent starting point for the walk up to the Laguna de las Verdes, a glacial lake five kilometres further up the valley.
History
For over a century, coal was the driving force of Villablino. The Minero Siderúrgica de Ponferrada company arrived in 1918 and built the railway connecting the valley to Ponferrada, forever transforming the lives of its people.
Did you know?
The Sierra-Pambley Foundation, linked to Giner de los Ríos's Institución Libre de Enseñanza, remains open to the public. And the old Pozo María mine shaft is being turned into a cultural centre on the valley's mining heritage.
History
A designated Historic-Artistic Site featuring the 16th-century Palace of the Quiñones, a former noble fortress that now serves as the Visitors Center for the Babia y Luna Natural Park.
Did you know?
The traditional stone houses feature rounded corners designed to prevent hay wagons from damaging the facades. Along the trail into its valleys lies the Fervienza Waterfall, where local tradition says tying a knot in the roadside brush brings good luck on the mountain.
History
Its name comes from the River Sil, which locals here called the «Black River» for its waters darkened by coal. Today, with barely a hundred inhabitants, it keeps that quiet air of a mountain hamlet.
Did you know?
Its thousand-year-old yew trees are among the oldest in the Laciana valley, and its narrow streets are reached by a bridge that seems frozen in time.
History
At 1,371 m, Lumajo is the highest village in Laciana. For centuries it welcomed the «vaqueiros de alzada», transhumant shepherds who came up every summer in search of the best mountain pastures.
Did you know?
In 1952, musicologist Alan Lomax recorded the traditional songs of its residents here. Its Church of the Magdalena (17th century), the granaries (hórreos) and the restored washhouse fed by two springs still tell that story.
Three very different options to cool down, from the closest spot to a full-day excursion.
The closest dip to the house. A recreational area by the Río del Monte, with clear waters flowing straight down from the Alto de Terreros, perfect for a summer afternoon without barely needing the car.
A glacial lagoon at 1,440 m, between Cabrillanes and Piedrafita. More than a swimming spot, it's a unique landscape: a Biosphere Reserve and protected bird area, ideal for combining a dip with a walk.
Known as the «Leonese Caribbean» for the turquoise colour of its waters. With over 40 km of shoreline, it has swimming areas and a sailing club in Mirantes de Luna, ideal for a full-day excursion.
We'll happily share in person the best spots, routes and local secrets.