Ancares is the original name of the river which has given its voice to the magical mountains between Galicia and León. It exerts its magnetism from afar, pinned to horizons at about two thousand metres. One enters them, with admiration and respect, along roads that go towards the peaks, anchored to deep, narrow valleys.

In the highest villages we discover the pallozas, ancient circular constructions with pounded straw roofs. Their curved but majestic forms are inspired by the summits of the smooth and wild mountains.

The rivers that descend from the Galician side all flow into the river Navia, that completely encircles the protected space in the west, and takes the waters towards the Cantabrian Sea. A good example is the beautiful valley carved out by the river Ser or the gorges of the river Rao, in the municipality of Navia de Suarna. The Leon side, on the other hand, flows south, into the Sil Basin.

The declaration of Os Ancares as a biosphere reserve in Galicia and Castilla and León, involved their incorporation as units of the Gran Cantábrica, a whole sequence of natural spaces of great environmental value in the north of Spain. The brown bear, its most famous symbol, also uses this Lugo region as part of its territory.

 

Outstanding nature

Scrub covers much of the eastern slopes. Large bushy colonies, of importance for their production of berries such holly berries and blueberries. Chestnut groves and oakwoods abound.

Among the fauna a mention should be made of the emblematic species which are not found in other parts of Galicia, including the brown bear and the capercaillie, last seen here, in this region. Wild boar, roe deer, deer and rabbits abound.

Useful information

Location
It is in the province of Lugo, bordering León. It includes Cervantes and Navia de Suarna and part of the Becerreá municipality

Area

  • The Lugo Os Ancares: 53,664 hectares.
  • The Leon Os Ancares: 56,786 hectares in the municipalities of Candín, Peranzanes, Vega de Espinareda and Villafranca del Bierzo.

Acess

  • A-6 highway and N-VI to Becerreá.
  • The LU-722 road communicates with A Proba in Navia de Suarna, with the main turnoffs to the mountain range.

Services

  • Accommodation: Yes.
  • Food: Yes.

More information
Lugo Institute of Economic and Social Development (INLUDES). Tel.: 982 227 812.

Facilities

  • Interpretation entre and Management of the Game Reserve of Os Ancares (Campo da Braña)
  • Nature Workshop in Campa da Braña-Degrada (Cervantes) Tel.: 982 181 252.

 

Arriba
Help us improve!