Ponga Natural Park is a true Asturian paradise. Somewhat hidden and rugged, it covers an area of 20.533 hectares brimming with scenic beauty . The park is situated on a broad mid-mountain ridge west of the Picos de Europa , halfway between them and another natural park, Redes (a Biosphere Reserve for its spectacular forest).
Park Environment of Ponga
From the viewpoints, we can look out over the Peloño forest, the Tiatordos peak, the Moru Valley, the La Corina gorge, Los Andamios, Candanu, Ventaniella, La Escalada, Tolivia, and many more. The peaks are linked by mountain passes, like natural passages between their enclosed valleys and the Castilian plateau. The road network in the park connects mountain passes with dozens of remote villages, from which trails lead to the numerous mountain pastures that are cascaded across this steep terrain. Even along the banks of the Ponga River , the landscape is not gentler; instead, it flows through gorges and ravines as it descends to the plains watered by the Sella River.
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This Asturian paradise preserves a large number of forests , mainly beech forests such as those of Mount Peloño , with more than 15 square kilometers of surface area and 200.000 trees, currently being the best preserved beech forest in the Iberian Peninsula.
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The park is also a vital habitat for numerous animal species, such as the red deer , king of the deciduous forest, which finds refuge in the endless woodlands that stretch from the neighboring municipality of Caso, cover Ponga, and end in the wooded areas of Sajambre. The rutting season , known as "La Rurea," offers a magnificent opportunity to venture into these forests, wait patiently, and enjoy the scenery at dawn or dusk. After the last summer rains and the drop in temperatures, the deer rut begins, and taking advantage of the spectacle of the rut, local innkeepers often offer accommodation and guided excursions.
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Paisanaje, folklore, gastronomy ... of the Ponga Park
This rich ecosystem of Ponga also includes human settlements, all of which are traditional villages with deep roots in livestock farming and their own distinctive cuisine. There are many typical villages in the Ponga municipality, including its capital, San Juan de Beleño; Taranes, nestled in the shadow of Tiatordos; Sobrefoz, built on a gorge; and the uninhabited village of Vallemoro. In all of them, you'll discover a rich heritage of vernacular architecture , with mountain houses in the purest Asturian style: stables, barns, and granaries with two watering troughs. It's also easy to spot houses in the Indiano style, with glazed galleries, ceramic floors, and tile decorations.
The Ponga municipality boasts a rich cultural heritage, where, in addition to its rural architecture, its ethnography and folklore stand out . In San Juan de Beleño, the legend of the Guirria is reenacted at the start of the new year . This mythological hooded figure, half "trasgu" (a mischievous spirit) and half carnival character, goes about his business with the women: he hugs them, squeezes them, and kisses them with impunity, while the young men of the village follow him on horseback, asking for a New Year's gift from house to house. The scene is unique, and the origins of this tradition are lost in time immemorial.
Ponga is a predominantly livestock farming region that remains true to traditional life but, due to its natural attractions, offers an extensive network of possibilities for the traveler: rural accommodations, mountain refuges, active tourism, hunting and fishing.
Its cuisine is equally authentic: Asturian stew, products from the pig slaughter, and seasonal game dishes such as liver soup, beans with wild boar, wild boar or venison stew, as well as various types of Asturian beef and beef with cheese. Among the cheese varieties, Beyos cheese stands out , one of Asturias' dairy treasures. A small, rough cheese, its unique texture and color conceal a rich, buttery flavor that is patiently crafted in the kitchens of Ponga homes.
Information:
How to get to
Located in the same council of Ponga. The Natural Park is located in the eastern center sector of the Cantabrian Mountains. It limits to the south with the province of Leon, to the east with this same province and with the council of Amieva, to the north with the councils of Piloña, Parres and Amieva and to the west with Caso.
To arrive from Cangas de Onís by the N-625, later taking the local PO-2 (San Ignacio-Beleño).
From the town of Sevares, in the council Piloña, by the AS-261.
Text: © Ramón Molleda for asturias.com
