Table Of ContentUSEFUL INFORMATION Centre %607 839 670 Collados del Asón Nature Reserve Aitzkorri Nature Area % (813) 34 32 61 41 ) 1(312) 642 98 17
Redes Biosphere Reserve % 942 207 612 % 943 783 453 and 943 796 463 ) (813) 34 32 61 44 www.okspain.org
International dialling code % 34 % 985 608 022 Picos de Europa National Park Entzia Nature Area www.spaintour.com e-mail: [email protected]
Park Reception & Nature Study % 942 730 555 % 945 312 150 e-mail: [email protected]
TURESPAÑA Tourist Information Centre %985 608 022 Santoña and Noja Marshes Laguardia Lakes Protected Miami n n
www.spain.info Fuentes del Narcea and Ibias Nature Reserve % 617 257 532 Biotope % 945 600 845 RUSSIA. Moscow Tourist Office of Spain ai ai
Nature Reserve % 985 811 498 Cantabrian Regional Tourist Infor- Gaztelugatxe Protected Biotope Spanish Tourist Office 1221 Brickell Avenue p p
GALICIA Eo Estuary Partial Nature Reserve mation Office, open all year round % 946 193 395 and 946 179 154 Tverskaya – 16/2 Building 3 Miami, Florida 33131 S S
% 902 200 432 % 985 635 113 and 985 476 003 Santander Leitzaran Protected Biotope Moscow 103009 % 1(305) 358 19 92 n n
www.turgalicia.es Villaviciosa Estuary Partial Mercado del Este % 943 697 413 and 943 590 409 % (7095) 935 83 97 ) 1(305) 358 82 23 i
Atlantic Islands National Park Nature Reserve Park Reception % 942 310 708 ) (7095) 935 83 96 www.okspain.org a i
a
% 986 687 502 & Nature Study Centre Santillana del Mar www.tourspain.ru e-mail: [email protected] p
Mt. Aloia Nature Reserve %687 483 378 Jesús Otero, 20 TRANSPORT e-mail: [email protected] S p
% 986 685 095 Barayo Partial Nature Reserve % 942 818 251 New York
Corrubedo and Carregal & Vixán % 985 640 083 and 985 630 094 Laredo AENA (Spanish Airports SINGAPORE. Singapore Tourist Office of Spain n S
Lagoons Nature Reserve West Coast Protected Landscape Alameda de Miramar, s/n Authority) % 902 404 704 Spanish Tourist Office 666 Fifth Avenue 35 thfloor e
% 981 878 532 % 985 591 377 % 942 611 096 www.aena.es 541 Orchard Road New York, New York 10103 n
Fraga del Eume Nature Reserve Cabo de Peñas Protected Castro Urdiales RENFE % 902 240 202 Liat Tower # 09-04 % 1(212) 265 88 22 e
% 981 430 270 Landscape % 985 882 644 Avda. de la Constitución, s/n International Information 238881 Singapore ) 1(212) 265 88 64 Gr e
O Invernadeiro Nature Reserve Peña Ubiña Protected Landscape % 942 871 512 % 902 243 402 www.renfe.es % 65 67 37 30 08 www.okspain.org e
% 988 386 376 % 985 497 608 Unquera Teleroute % 900 123 505 ) 65 67 37 31 73 e-mail: [email protected]
Baixa Limia - Serra do Xurés Cuera Range Protected Landscape Ctra. N-634, Kilometre. 279 www.dgt.es e-mail: [email protected] n r
Nature Reserve % 988 448 048 % 985 400 164 % 942 719 680 Emergencies % 112 i G
Enciña da Lastra Nature Reserve Sueve Range Protected Landscape Upper Ebro Nature Reserve and Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) % 062 UNITED KINGDOM. London EMBASSIES IN MADRID e
% 988 370 715 % 985 860 038 Environmental Education National Police % 091 Spanish Tourist Office
O Courel and Ancares Ranges Aramao Range Protected Centre. Information and Post Office % 902 197 197 PO. BOX 4009. London W1A 6NB Canada ur n
% 982 181 252 Landscape % 985 766 265 bookings % 625 345 033 www.correos.es % (44207) 486 80 77 Núñez de Balboa, 35 - 3º t i
Cecebre Dam % 981 647 916 (Riosa), %985 768 160 (Quirós) ) (44207) 486 80 34 % 914 233 250 ) 914 233 251 a
Eo Estuary Nature Area East Coast Protected Landscape BASQUE COUNTRY www.tourspain.co.uk Japan N e
% 982 128 128 % 985 400 164 % 945 161 598 SPANISH TOURIST e-mail: [email protected] Serrano, 109
r
Umia O Grove Intertidal Complex Carondio and Valledor Ranges www.paisvascoturismo.net INFORMATION OFFICES % 915 907 600 ) 915 901 321
u
% 986 680 284 Protected Landscape Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve ABROAD UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Republic of Ireland
% 985 627 021 % 946 257 125 Los Angeles Claudio Cuello, 73 t
ASTURIAS Asturian Jurassic Museum Pagoeta Nature Reserve CANADA. Toronto Tourist Office of Spain % 915 763 500 ) 914 351 677 a
% 902 300 202 %902 306 600 % 943 428 843 Tourist Office of Spain 8383 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 960 Russia N
www.infoasturias.com Aralar Nature Reserve 2 Bloor Street West Suite 3402 Beverly Hills, California 90211 Velázquez, 155
Picos de Europa National Park CANTABRIA % 943 582 032 Toronto, Ontario M4W 3E2 % 1(323) 658 71 88 % 915 622 264 ) 915 629 712
% 985 848 614 % 901 111 112 Aiako Harria Nature Reserve % (1416) 961 31 31 ) 1(323) 658 10 61 United Kingdom
Somiedo Biosphere Reserve www.turismodecantabria.com % 943 494 521 ) (1416) 961 19 92 www.okspain.org Fernando El Santo, 16
% 985 763 758 Oyambre Nature Reserve Izkiz Nature Reserve www.tourspain.toronto.on.ca e-mail: [email protected] % 913 190 200 ) 913 081 033
Park Reception & Nature Study % 942 207 612 % 945 410 502 e-mail: [email protected] United States of America EUROPEAN COMMUNITY
Centre %985 763 758 Saja-Besaya Nature Reserve Valderejo Nature Reserve Chicago Serrano, 75
Ecomuseum %985 763 984 % 942 207 612 % 945 353 146 JAPAN. Tokyo Tourist Office Of Spain % 915 872 200 ) 915 872 303 EDuervoeploepamn eRnet gFiounnadl
Muniellos Biosphere Reserve Peña Cabarga Nature Reserve Urkiola Nature Reserve Tourist Office of Spain Water Tower Place, suite 915
% 985 105 545 % 942 207 612 % 946 814 155 Daini Toranomon. Denki Bldg.6F. East. 845, North Michigan
Visitors’ permits %985 279 100 Liencres Dunes Nature Reserve Gorbea Nature Reserve 3-1-10. Toranomon. Minato-Ku Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60-611 I
Park Reception & Nature Study % 942 207 612 % 945 430 709 and 946 739 279 TOKYO-105-0001 % 1(312) 642 19 92
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction 2
Cabo Ortegal 12
GALICIA 6 Cariño
San Andrés de Teixido
Cedeira 15 Ortigueira Xove
ASTURIAS 22 Valdoviño Mera Viveiro Cervo 27
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HauAAaroyTAuaitA1 ohaetr5leNNtd eVad-r aCexaswrnrsLL9rIdnnanao-e iNORRPÁdatiaarda aIIry-aSAontz d 1igzP-DNsina1 HRRDDeacu4LdDD1i AoiSan SeoaD9RanliaksAA tAAoMdC enuiEEelnyOalat nInaIeer rrTibruaPDDrlartssaúPiaeeirbttrat eetrunfzRriLgzraabbeíuiueeaaenlOnwnliSNn-ntadeAata-e.N1yP J2L-e11uAa5zn RONCESVALLES 45 kmBAYONNE 34 km
N-122 CC AA SS TT II LL LL AA YY LL EE ÓÓ NN Marina
EPGRIRNATFE, DS . BAY. BRAGA Fonfría Montamarta Villardefrades Torre Vdeillla Mnuabrqlaués VALLADOLID Fuentecén dAe rDanudearo El Burgo N-122 Hi1n3o7d5ejo SSpkia resort
DN.LIP.P:O rM:i n7.t 04e48d-3 0i4n57 -S-12p80a60i-n58 AOtlcaenatnic CATRelT. 0O91G4cRa 1Ar6tFo17gÍ0 A3ra:4 fG1ia C-g 22cAa80Rr0@0, 2Sin M.f3Lo0An. eDCgRaorIdcD4ieo 0-n. caAolÑ mSO5ilí0 c2 eK0o0m,5 35 Guimaraes VILA REAL Vdiela A Pgouuiacra Mirandela Miranda do DourodeB eSMramuyeialllogaos del PaRnÍOPereruela ZAMORAToro DUERON-12T2ordAe-1s1ilRlauseda A-d6L2ea Dguunearo Sdaenl AMrrigouyoel PeCñuéalflaierSlacramNe-n1i2a2 deH olan rCruubeisatadeL aDnugeNarA-o1y1ll0ónSdadene G EOossrtmembaaazn RecueHrdoartezuela AlmazáNn-111 ASLPihiiglrrghpirntoihemr-otMsu’ soWenaays tteor ySantiago
PORTO 5 km PENAFIEL 10 km TÔRRE DE MONCORVO 30 km SALAMANCA 55 km MEDINA DEL CAMPO 20 km BOCEGUILLAS 40 km MEDINACELI 45 km
1stedition
Dublin
IRELAND
UNITED KINGDOM
London
Paris
FRANCE
Bay of Biscay
GREEN SPAIN
Madrid
SPAIN
Mediterranean
Sea
Ceuta
Melilla
INTRODUCTION by the Cantabrian Range, and
that is undoubtedly one of
Legend has it that it was Europe’s leading areas in terms
Michelet, the famous French of the quality of its scenery and
botanist, who first uttered that the richness of its biodiversity.
much-repeated phrase about The mountains of the
Africa beginning at the Cantabrian Range run from east
Pyrenees. What he was to west along the northern
referring to was the essentially flank of the Iberian Peninsula,
Mediterranean character of invariably parallel to the sea.
most of the Iberian Peninsula Their great geological variety
in general, and of Spain in comes as a surprise. The oldest
particular. Yet not all of Spain is rocky massifs of granite, slate
Mediterranean, dun-coloured and quartzite dominate the
and dry. There is another Spain, west (Galicia), lending a rolling,
less well-known, wet, green and hilly shape to the terrain.
subject to an Atlantic climate, To the east (Asturias, Cantabria
one whose backbone is formed and the Basque Country),
Aramaio Valley
2
in contrast, more recent rocks and horses. In some places,
of a calcareous nature are more this rain exceeds 2,000 litres
common. These have been worn per square metre per year and
away and eroded by water, accounts for the presence of
thereby creating karst forests, such as the beech groves
landscapes, some of which are found in the Iberian Peninsula
spectacular, such as the immense at the limit of their southern
Asturian and Cantabrian European habitat. These
canyons (Cares, La Hermida), plentiful precipitations are
the large cave complexes (Alto likewise needed by other more
Asón) and the external karren northern-type forests, like the
(lapiesor limestone pavements), groves of oak (of different
such as those of the Basque species), birch and hazel and
mountain ranges (Aralar, Itxina, the riverside forests of alder
Aitzgorri). Rain is undoubtedly and ash. Seeking refuge in
one of the principal factors that these magic woodlands are
defines Green Spain, with the some of the gems of European
abundant year-round rainfall fauna, e.g., the Cantabrian
maintaining these verdant brown bear (Ursus arctos),
meadows that sustain the local Iberian wolf and capercaillie
flocks of sheep, herds of cows (Tetrao urogallus).
3
Found in the more barren areas, birds, are sure to delight the
up on the most impregnable watcher with their beauty and
crags (especially in the Picos de rarity. The entire coastline of
Europa Range) are chamois, Green Spain, stretching from the
the quarry of the Golden eagle Basque Country down to Galicia,
(Aquila chrysaetos). This is not is characterised by a notable
the only bird of prey, however, wealth of estuaries, where the
since the Cantabrian Range is an Cantabrian and Atlantic rivers
extraordinary hunting ground flow into the sea, forming
for short-toed eagles (Circaetus mouths interspersed with salt
gallicus), booted eagles marshes and sand flats, where it
(Hieraaetus pennatus), griffon is easy to spot -above all in
vultures (Gyps fulvus) and winter- yellow-legged gulls
Egyptian vultures (Neophron (Larus cachinnans), cormorants,
percnopterus). Other species curlews (Numenius arquata),
too, in this case sea or coastal herons, spoonbills (Platalea
San Vicente de la Barquera with the Picos de Europa in the background
4
leucorodia) and other species of and, dating from a later period,
bird, hardly any distance from the presence of many
archetypal seaside towns and Megalithic monuments
villages whose livelihood (dolmens, cronlechs and
depends on fish and shellfish menhirs). The isolation of these
(Getaria, Lekeitio, Santoña, San mountains has made for the
Vicente de la Barquera, Llanes, preservation of traditions and
Cudillero, Cedeira, Muros, etc.). highly individualistic peoples
The Cantabrian mountains may such as the Basques or pasiegos
possibly have been one of the (those dwelling in the Pas River
first sites in Europe to be settled Valley). All the places described
after the Ice Age. This would in this Guide are Special
account for the extraordinary Protection Areas, and most are
wealth of caves with Place of Regional Interest
Palaeolithic rock paintings forming part of the European
(Altamira, Tito Bustillo, Ekain) Natura 2000 Network.
5
G
A L
I C I A
ATLANTIC ISLANDS
MARINE-TERRESTRIAL
NATIONAL PARK
Off the sharply indented coast
of Galicia’s Rías Baixas(lower or
southernmost estuaries), lies a
group of islands that make up
the National Park. These are
the Cíes Islands lying in the
roadstead to the Vigo estuary,
the Isle of Ons at the entrance to
Pontevedra, Sálvora Island at the
mouth of the Arousa estuary,
and Cortegada Island, much
closer inshore though also in the
Arousa estuary. Pre-eminent
among these are the Cíes,
comprising three islands, namely,
Monte Agudo or North Island,
Faro or Middle Island and
San Martiño or South Island.
The ancient forests of Pyrenean
oak (Quercus pirenaica) have
disappeared and have been
replaced by reafforestation
with eucalyptus, mimosa, and
red and Monterey pine. Endemic
species of great value, such as
Portuguese crowberry and
the popularly called hierba de
enamorar(herb of love) or
thrift (armeria pubigera), can
however be found growing in
the scenically stunning areas of
sandy soils that fringe the
islands’ bleached white strands,
7
Beaches. Cíes Islands
while over 200 species of with some 1,000 pairs. Though
seaweed –and brown algae of fewer in number, lesser
the Laminariaand Sachoriza black-backed gulls (Larus fuscus)
genera in particular- thrive and stormy (or storm) petrels
in the rich seabed (within likewise mate and tend to their
the protected area of shelf young. These sea birds can be
stretching 100 metres from the easily spotted, drying their
Spring low tide mark). The island feathers in the sun, after diving
landscape is very asymmetrical: among the many reefs that lie
whereas the western side, between the islands. Other birds
flanking the open sea, is sheer that winter here include
and rocky, the eastern coast, the cormorant (Phalacrocorax
facing the Bay of Vigo, is carbo), black-throated diver
smoothly folded, protected (Gavia arctica), gannet (Sula
against the saline Atlantic winds, bassana) and shearwater, which
and lined with superb, fine can be easily seen from the
white sandy beaches. It is on the lighthouses that illuminate the
steep, less “tamed” side where entrance to the Bay of Vigo.
birds tend to nest, and indeed it These vantage points can be
is here that the famous colony reached by climbing the trails
of yellow-legged gulls is to that begin at the Rodas pier,
be found. This is the most the point where the boats from
important colony in Galicia, with Vigo or Baiona moor after a
over 22,000 breeding pairs,
whose riotous uproar
disrupts the peace and
Yellow-legged gull
tranquillity of these
islands throughout
the spring and summer
months. Another bird that
nests here is the shag
(Phalacrocorax aristotelis),
8
