What to Do in Riaño Spain & Why it’s Worth Visiting This Stunning Mountain Village
Riaño is a unique village in the Castilla & León region of Spain. It is famous for its huge reservoir, which is found within the Parque Regional Montaña de Riaño y Mampodre.
The village of Riaño is one of Spain’s more modern villages, as what we see today was built after 1986. The old town and eight other nearby villages were destroyed to create the Riaño reservoir. Riaño is worth visiting, primarily because of its spectacular location at the foothills of the Cantabrian Mountains, rather than the village itself.
Riaño sits at an elevation of 3,609 ft (1,100m) and is located along the scenic banks of the Esla River. The town boasts fabulous viewpoints, numerous hiking trails, and a handful of places to eat to dabble in local cuisine. Another bonus is that it’s conveniently located close to the Picos de Europa National Park.
This quick guide to Riaño includes a brief history, how to best reach the village, an overview of what to see and do, and where to stay.
Table of Contents
- A Brief History of Riaño
- How to Get to Riaño Spain
- What to See in Riaño
- How Much Time to Spend in Riaño?
- Where to Stay in Riaño
- Is Riaño Worth Visiting?
- Conclusion | A Quick Guide to Riaño Spain
A Quick History of Riaño
Riaño is interesting because the old town is underwater, along with eight other villages. The nearby villages of Anciles, Escaro, Holde, La Puerta, Salio, Burón, Pedrosa del Rey, and Vegacerneja were all intentionally destroyed with Riaño.
Demolition began in December 1986 and was completed by July 1987.
Around the new village of Riaño, it’s possible to see some structures that were reassembled throughout the town. For example, the Ermita de Nuestra Señora was deconstructed stone by stone in the village of La Puerta and was rebuilt in Riaño.
There are many acknowledgements around town to the many villages that were lost. The museum clearly states that it also works as a “heartfelt tribute” to the villages that were intentionally destroyed. The monument “El Silencio de las Campanas” is a thought-provoking monument that showcases church bells from each village church that were lost.
How to Get to Riaño Spain
Here are three different ways to get to Riaño, Spain.
By Car
The easiest way to reach Riaño is by car. I visited for the first time while exploring the nearby Picos de Europa National Park. The historical city of León, one of the major historical cities on the Camino Frances, is around an hour and a half from Riaño.
The city of Oviedo is around 2 hours from Riaño by car.
By Bus
There are daily direct buses from León. Be mindful that these buses stop in multiple villages, so the journey takes over 2 hours.
While Also does offer daily departures, oftentimes local bus companies can run between smaller villages. Buses arrive in Riaño at the local bus station here.
On Foot
The second time I visited Riaño was by walking the Camino Vadiniense. This Camino de Santiago route gets its name from the lost tribes of “the Vadinians.” These tribes called this area and the foothills of the Picos de Europa home, and they were one of the last people to resist the Roman conquest.
The Camino Vadiniense starts from Potes. Pilgrims typically walk the Camino Lebaniego to the Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liebana and then return by bus to the Camino Norte.
Alternatively, it’s possible to walk along the Camino Vadiniense from Potes to León. Upon arrival in León, pilgrims can then continue on the Camino Frances to Santiago de Compostela.
Riaño is typically on Stage 3 of the Camino Vadiniense. For those who started in San Vicente de la Barquera on the Lebaniego, pilgrims typically arrive in Riaño on day 6.
What to See in Riaño
Riaño is alluring tourists with its surrounding spectacular views. The tourism board has often compared the majesty of the pueblo to the Alps. You may see the signboards and cutouts of Jeidi, who is said to be a “distant relative” of Heidi of the Alps.
Many of the best things to do in Riaño include the scenic viewpoints.
Riaño Viewpoints
There are two main viewpoints in Riano: Mirador Alto Valcayo and Mirador Las Hazas. Alto Valcayo Viewpoint has a heart sculpture and offers stunning views of the Riaño reservoir and its iconic jagged peaks. There is also a signboard highlighting all the main mountain summits.
The other popular viewpoint in Riaño is Las Hazas. This viewpoint is famous for the largest swing in Spain.
Both viewpoints offer incredible vistas and can be visited at the same time. The viewpoints are separated by a casual 5-minute walk.
The best way to reach the lookouts is to take the back route up along Camino Cementerio. The small road is past the cemetery and leads to different footpaths. This route is longer, but more scenic. I saw horses grazing in the open fields along the hillsides. It was really beautiful.
Ride the Swing at Mirador de Las Hazas
Mirador de Las Hazas has the Columpio de Riaño (swing). This swing is said to be the biggest in Spain and offers incredible views of the reservoir. Here you can also find the cutout of Jeidi and her shepherd dog Chitu.
Museo Etnográfico de Riaño
The Ethnographic Museum of Riaño is located in the Plaza de Cimadevilla. This is a local museum that showcases the history of Riaño from the time of the Vadiniense tribes to the modern flooding of the valley.
In the museum, it’s possible to appreciate the different cultures and traditions of the people who have lived in this region for centuries.
Museo Etnográfico de Riaño | High Season Hours: Tues-Sun, 11:30 – 14:00 / 16:30 – 19:30, closed Mondays | Admission: 2€
Walk Along the Paseo del Recuerdo
The Paseo del Recuerdo follows a cobblestone path along the shores of the reservoir. It’s an out-and-back trail that can be picked up near the football field or close to the park with the Ermita de Nuestra Señora.
The trail is around 1 Km each direction (2 Km round-trip). The short footpath offers stunning views of the reservoir. Along the pathway, find signboards that pay tribute to the villages that were sacrificed to make the water source.
El Banco Más Bonito de León
Take a seat and enjoy the “most beautiful bench in León.” The small bench offers a different angle of the lake and is close to the signboard of León.
Explore the Numerous Hiking Trails in the Regional Park
The Region Mountain Park of Riaño and Mampodre has over 40 official hiking trails. The best place to get up-to-date hiking information is from the local Tourist Information Center in town. They can provide a detailed map of each official PR route with distances and approximate times.
Those up for a challenging climb can ascend Pico Gilbo. This is the most iconic peak in Riaño and requires advanced techniques to reach the peak at 5,492 ft (1,674 m).
Enjoy the Local Cuisine
There are quite a few restaurants, cafes, and bars in town. Many of the local restaurants highlight the regional cuisine.
I found the Plaza de los Pueblos a good place to grab a coffee and a snack. The hotel bars in Plaza de Cimadevilla were a great place to catch a drink with a view. The main road, Avenue de Valcayo, is also lined with plenty of restaurants. Many of the hotels also have a connected restaurant and bar.
How Much Time to Spend in Riaño
Riaño is a popular day trip for those exploring the Picos de Europa National Park. Others drive up for the day from León. As Riaño is small, all the major sites can be seen in a few short hours.
However, Riaño is busy with day trippers. I suggest sleeping here for at least one night. If planning on hiking in the Regional Park, it’s best to spend a weekend here. This is especially true since the weather here can be unpredictable with fog and rain.
This is a popular weekend destination for domestic tourists, so it can be quite busy, especially during the summer months.
Where to Stay in Riaño Spain
There are lots of accommodation options in Riaño, but the majority are private apartments or hotels. Again, this is a popular weekend destination room availability can be extremely limited. It’s best to book a stay in Riaño in advance.
Again, Riaño can be a nice place to stay outside the borders of the Picos de Europa National Park.
Those with a tent can stay at Camping de Riaño. They also offer bungalows, and this site is a popular place to stay close to the viewpoints (and outside of the main village area).
Popular Places to Stay in Riaño
➜ Los Casares (Private Apartments)
➜ Browse All the Accommodation Options in Riaño
Is Riaño Worth Visiting?
Yes, Riaño is worth a visit. This gateway mountain village is extremely popular with domestic tourists and has several viewpoints, restaurants, a museum, and access to over 40 different hiking trails.
Most sites in Riaño can be explored casually over a few hours. It makes sense as a stopover between the Picos de Europa and Oviedo or León. Those who want to spend time hiking in the regional park should plan on spending at least a weekend in the area.
Riaños is not a super popular international destination in Spain… yet!
Conclusion | A Quick Guide to Riaño Spain
In short, this is a guide to visiting Riaño in the Castile & León autonomous region in Spain. I’ve included how to get to Riaño, what to see and do, places to stay, and why it’s worth a quick visit.
While many domestic tourists visit Riaño, few international tourists come to this mountain village. Riaño is a great place to see, in combination with the nearby Picos de Europa National Park.
Have you visited Riaño? Did you think it was worth a visit? Let me know in the comments below!
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