Potes Things to Do

Riding the cable car (Teleferico) is all I did, and it's about all there is to do, aside from enjoying the town's rustic charm.

In fact, the Teleferico itself isn't even in Potes, but nearby. It ascends to the top of Fuente Dé. According to the official website, it is the third longest cable car route in the world without supporting posts.

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Just 3 kms out from Potes, on the same road that takes you to Fuente De lies the Santo Toribio monastery, one of the 5 holy sites of Christianity. Thought to have been constructed in the 8th century, it holds one of the largest pieces of Christ's Cross, the Lignum Crucis. First references to the monastery are found from the 1100's but it is thought that it quite possibly dates as far back as the 6th cebtury. The gothic church was built from 1250 onwards but has obviously been restored a few times since.

Although the city of Potes suffered destructions in 1936 during the civilian war, the Barrio Viejo, old district in the hart of the city, preserved a spectacular medieval aspect. The two old bridges "puente de San Cayetano" and "puente de la Carcel" contribute significantly to that environment of past centuries.

Alongside the rive Deva stands another tower of the 15th c. Torre de Orejon de la Lama.
The tower has been modified during the centuries and is attached to other buildings. The place is used for exhibitions.

The Torre del Infantado is a typical tower-manor of the 15th c. as they are many in Cantabria. The tower is build on a square plan with four corner turrets and crenellated at the top. It is now used as town hall.

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To join Potes one has to leave the highway Santander-Lanes and take the N621 at Unquera to Panes. The road is nice with views on the Picos de Europa.
At Panes the road enters the canyon of the Hermida eroded by the river Deva.
The 27 Km take 1 hour and the driver will be so concentrated on the narrow road with a bend every 50 m or less that he will not see a thing of the landscape.
The "fun" with this road in the canyon is that next to the tourists who want to drive slowly to see something of the river and the rocky cliffs, there are the locals who want to speed up things and there are a few lorry's who need all the width of the road in the bends. There are nearly no possibilities for a halt.
Drivers will be glad to get out of the canyon at the approach of Potes where the canyon enlarges to a valley.

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Another interesting option when you are visiting Potes area,it is to have a nice horse riding up the mountains.There are a few places to rent a horse in Potes,and also there are some diferent routes that you can choose from,you will find them: from half hour to a whole day.You must to contact them the day before and let them know how many horses you will need and what route you want to do.I did a one and half hour ride,and I really enjoyed seeing the awesome mountains views around Potes.Don't miss it,especially if you are travelling with children.

Another place not to be missed if you are visiting Potes' area,it is.. .Fuente De, which has a Parador and a cable car that goes right up to the top of the central massif of the Picos de Europa,the view from top are awesome,if you are lucky and go on a clear day.Normally here only in summertime you will find many clear days but not in rest of the year,that are very foggy and also with lots of rain!.

The Parador is a very nice place to stay one night,all Paradores in Spain are a kind of luxury accommodations in special buildings like Monasteries,Palaces or in new builidings like that.