When I first saw a picture of Riaño in a National Geographic Travel Magazine, and I saw that it was located in Spain, I marked it with a little red heart on my Google Maps (Yes, I have many little red hearts there ;)). Visiting our friends in Léon with our 6-week-old baby turned out to be rather close to Riaño and so.. we went to visit the Fjords of Riaño.
Now, you have never heard of Riaño and are probably thinking. Fjords, in Spain? So, let me give you a little intro to the region, what to do when to go, and.. where to eat 😉
The Leonese Fjords of Riaño
Located in the province of Leon, about 1.5 hrs from the capital, Leon, these fjords look like it could be Scandinavia. In the wintertime, the peaks and fir trees are full of snow and the little town is full of Christmas lights. In fall, the mountains color red, orange and yellow, making it a colorful postcard.
However, the story behind these fjords is a bit sad: this lake is not a natural lake, but manmade. In 1987, the 9 towns that were located underneath were flooded and the dam was inaugurated. Some historically important buildings have been removed and the people of these 9 villages were given a new home in the village of New Riaño.
What to do in Riaño?
The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, located near the bridge on a small promontory that offers great views and a beautiful picture, was one of the monuments that was moved stone by stone from the ancient village towards New Riaño, before the flooding of the area. From here on, you can start the Walk of Remembrance. A nice pedestrian path with incredible views of the lake, the mountains, and the entire area. Hiking trails in the area also lead to the Mirador de las Hazas and Valcayo.
You can visit the Ethnographic Museum of Riaño, where hundreds of ancient pieces from the Leonese Mountain of Riaño are exhibited, as well as some recreated ancient houses.
What we did with our 6-week-old baby
Together with Inoa and our friends, we decided to take a nice boat trip. They take about an hour and are 13,- each (baby´s don´t pay ;)). The advantage of the boat is that it takes you into the fjords, with spectacular views from the water. During the trip, the history of the area is explained in Spanish and in English. The best views are from outside of the boat though, so I do recommend making this trip on a day with fairly good weather.
Enjoying the Leonese cuisine
And then.. this area is known for its good cuisine, full of typical food from this mountainous region. We went to have lunch at Hostal Sainz and were surprised with some amazing food full of mushrooms, cheese from the region and dried chestnuts.
So, if you want to get off the beaten track and visit something very unexpected in northern Spain, go visit the Fjords of Riaño and be prepared to be blown away.
Check out my other blogs for other ideas of what to do in Spain.
