The north of Spain is often referred to as España Verde, "green Spain". The rugged mountain range of the Cantabrian Cordillera stretches from the Spanish-French border through the Basque Country, Cantabria and Asturias to Galicia, forming a climatic divide: the Atlantic Ocean ensures mild winters and summers, its humid air brings abundant rainfall in which lush vegetation thrives. One third of Asturias is a nature reserve. The mountains are home to wild animals such as the Cantabrian brown bear and the wolf.
Asturias is one of 17 Spanish autonomous communities, the capital is Oviedo, but the largest city is Gijon (272,000 inhabitants) on the coast. Agriculture plays a major role, especially dairy farming. The formerly important coal and ore mining industry has been in continuous decline since the 1990s, and more and more heavy industry businesses have been forced to close.
From the first location in the mountainous hinterland of Ovideo, we explore the lower-lying climbs around the former coalfield of Asturias, before heading up the Angliru, one of the steepest climbs in Spain, which is also regularly tackled by the Vuelta a España. The second location we chose was the village of Purrúa near the coast at Llanes. From there, you can explore the winding roads on the cliffs, the mountain passes in the neighbouring Picos de Europa, the Vuelta arrival at the Lagos de Covadonga and the spectacular pass road up to Sotres, Asturias' highest mountain village.
