The Regional Mountain Park of Riaño and Mampodre is a protected natural area in the north-eastern part of the province of León.
Gilbo peak
This high mountain area of the Cantabrian Mountains is bordered to the east by the Picos de Europa National Park, to the north by the Redes and Ponga Parks and to the west by the Curueño valley in León.
Among its most iconic peaks are the Gilbo peak, known as the Leonese Matterhorn, the Yordas peak, Peña Ten or the Torrecerredo peak, the highest in the province at 2,650 metres.
This unique park is home to a large number of Iberian fauna, such as the brown bear, the wolf and the capercaillie. Although the beech forests are its main forest, you can also enjoy magnificent holly groves and protected reserves such as the Pinar de Lillo pine forest.
Pinar de Lillo pine forest
Riaño
This town in León is famous for being located in an impressive enclave for nature lovers, popularly known as the Leonese fjords.
History
The current site of Riaño is not the original one. This ancient town remains submerged under the waters of the reservoir of the same name and was moved to the place we all know today.
Bridge
In the spring of 1987, the residents of the old Riaño and other surrounding villages (9 in total) such as La Puerta and Anciles, tried to prevent a hundred civil guards from entering the valley and forcing them to abandon their homes and flooding it, flooding their houses. The fertile meadows that formed part of this valley were buried forever by the waters of the reservoir and with the water thousands of memories.
Hermitage
To learn about its history, you can walk along a paved path of almost one kilometre, with explanatory panels every 100 metres, in memory of the nine villages buried by the waters of the reservoir.
The Riaño reservoir is the largest in the Duero basin. Nowadays it is a great place to practice water sports and/or take a ride on one of the pleasure boats and enjoy the magnificent mountains that surround the valley.
The most unique buildings were moved to the new Riaño, stone by stone before the valley was flooded, such as the 12th century Chapel of Nuestra Señora del Rosario de La Puerta.
Hermitage interior
Next to the Ermita del Rosario we can find what is known as the most beautiful bench in León, the views of the Gilbo, Yordas and Las Pintas next to the reservoir are impressive.
Although the present village was rebuilt, it still retains its magic, surrounded by such emblematic peaks as the Gilbo, which makes the sunsets in Riaño some of the most spectacular in the province.
Sunset
Other nearby activities
The largest bank in León, the bank of Burón
On the CL635 road next to the town of Burón in León, you will find this bench, known for being the largest in the province of León.
A structure over 4 metres high with a spectacular backdrop, the Yordas or Burín peak.
It has an area next to the road for parking
Biescas viewpoint
Riaño swing
The Riaño swing is known as the highest in Spain. It is located at the Hazas viewpoint next to the Valcayo mountain.
You can access it by a path that starts from the Riaño campsite car park.
Swing
Tip: It is not easy to park here, so even if you have to walk a little further, we recommend that you leave your car in the village.
After swinging and enjoying the impressive views, you can walk up to the Alto del Valcayo, where there is a tower-hut with a series of signs explaining the fauna and flora of the area.
Viewpoints
Riaño is also noted for its viewpoints, including the most beautiful bench in León (next to the hermitage of Nuestra Señora del Rosario), the Biescas viewpoint (next to the cave of Vieja del Monte) and/or the Alto del Valcayo (next to the swing).
Valcayo
Mountain
The Regional Mountain Park of Riaño and Mampodre stands out for the beauty of its valleys and its imposing mountains. We invite you to discover some of them with us!
Coriscao peak
Collado Jermoso, Llambrión tower peak
Cares route, Caín Poncebos Caín
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