Page 109 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Northern Spain

PIC OS DE EUR OP A  107

beautiful, if harsh, surrounding proportioned building – pure
landscape are gradually Romanesque in style – boasts
revealed. From the Mirador del beautiful exterior sculptures.
Cable, the obser vation point at
the summit, ambitious walkers P Valle de Valdeón
can carry on to the peaks of Castilla y León.
Pico Tesorero (2,570 m/8,432 ft) The Posada de Valdeón lies on
and Peña Vieja. Despite the the main tourist trail that runs
high altitude, the trails are not through the Picos de Europa
difficult and your efforts will be national park. Huge outcrops
rewarded by unforgettable of rock dominate the valley,
views of the Picos’ central massif. leaving a lasting impression
on those who stay in the
P Potes village of Valdeón.
Cantabria. * 1,400. There is an astonishing variety
n C/Indepen dencia 12; 942 73 07 87. of flora and fauna, and the
( Mon. _ Nuestra Señora de 15th-century Torre del Infantado in Potes, valley’s meadows provide
Valmayor (15 Aug), Santísima Cruz currently the town hall grazing ground for cattle. Hiking
(14 Sep). trails to the pictur esque ravine
This small town on the Deva Infantado. Also worth seeing of Garganta del Cares begin in
river, picturesquely set amid is the late Gothic 14th­century Valdeón, but shorter walks in
snowcapped peaks, is the main Iglesia de San Vicente, with the surround ing area are also
centre of the eastern Picos de a beautiful façade and Baroque worthwhile, for every corner of
Europa. The narrow winding altars brought here from the valley has beautiful views.
streets lined with medieval stone the Dominican Convento Every year on 8 September a
houses are full of small shops, de San Raimundo. festival in honour of the Virgen
and on Mondays a colourful A good way to spend an de Corona (Virgin of the Crown)
flea market takes place here. afternoon in Potes is to hire takes place in the villages of the
The town’s most character istic a bicycle and ride for 9 km Valle de Valdeón. Local inhabit­
monument is a 15th­century (5 miles) to the Iglesia de Santa ants believe that the warrior
defensive tower, the Torre del María Piasta. This ideally king Pelayo was crowned here.
Flora and Fauna of Picos de Europa
Foxes, otters and wolves inhabit the lush The steep hillsides,
vegetation in the beech and mixed forests. soaring peaks and peaceful
Eagles, vultures and kestrels circle above valleys and ravines of the
the soaring peaks. The flowers that appear Picos form the park’s
in the meadows include Alpine violets, picturesque backdrop.
foxgloves and colourful perennials.
Visitors are invariably impressed by The pyramidal
the richness of the flora and orchid, with an
fauna, which include many 8­cm (3­in)
endemic species. long inflores­
cence and
pink or purple
flowers, grows
The chamois is one of in the park’s
the larger species to inhabit open meadows.
the park. Herds of these
agile animals graze in
the mountain meadows. The owl, with a flat head, short
tail, and large bright yellow
eyes, is active both during
Thistles, reaching 1.5 m the day and at night; its
(5 ft) in height, with blue characteristic soft hoot can
cone­shaped flowers often be heard in the park.
and broad thorny leaves,
are one of many species
of plants.
The spring gentian, which flowers
between March and August, has short
stems with single leaves and often
grows on the limestone base of screes.

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