Picos de Europa: limestone peaks above Cangas de Onis
Published on 09/23/2026 at 00:43 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Picos de Europa is a limestone mountain range in northern Spain, spread across Asturias, Cantabria and Castile and León. Above Cangas de Onis, the western Cornión massif combines pale rock walls, deep valleys, high pastures and the Covadonga Lakes.
Limestone walls across three Spanish regions
The range belongs to the Cantabrian Mountains and has three principal massifs: the western Cornión, the central Urrieles and the eastern Ándara. Their limestone surfaces are cut by ravines, caves, terraces and narrow valleys.
Torre de Cerredo rises to 2,648 m (8,688 ft), the highest summit in Picos de Europa. The mountain range also reaches close to the Atlantic coast, creating a striking meeting of high relief, green foothills and maritime landscapes.
The geology is visible in the colour and texture of the mountains. Grey and pale limestone dominates the higher terrain, while beech woodland, oak woodland, grassland and mountain streams occupy lower ground. The Deva River marks the lowest point of the national park, at 75 m above sea level.
Covadonga, Cangas de Onis and the western massif
Cangas de Onis lies on the Asturian side of Picos de Europa and forms an important access point for the western massif. The town stands near the Sella River, with the mountains rising to the south and east.
The municipality contributes 7,119 hectares to the national park. The western massif, known as Cornión, lies between the Sella and Cares rivers and includes the landscape around Covadonga.
Covadonga combines mountain scenery with Asturian history. The Royal Site contains the Basilica of Santa María la Real de Covadonga and the Holy Cave, associated with the beginnings of the Kingdom of Asturias.
The name Pelayo belongs to this historical setting. Pelayo is linked with the Battle of Covadonga, traditionally dated to 722, an event connected with the formation of the Asturian kingdom.
From protected mountain landscape to national park
Protection of Picos de Europa began in 1918, when the area around Covadonga became Spain’s first national park. The protected territory expanded across the surrounding massifs and valleys.
Picos de Europa National Park extends across Asturias, Cantabria and Castile and León. Its landscapes include limestone cliffs, Atlantic woodland, high pastures, rivers and glacial lakes.
The area became a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2003. The designation covers a mountain environment where villages, pastoral land, forests and high peaks exist within the same protected landscape.
The Covadonga Lakes are among the best-known features on the Asturian side. Lago Enol and Lago de la Ercina lie in a high mountain basin above Covadonga, surrounded by limestone ridges and grass-covered slopes.
The lakes are linked with paths and viewpoints across the western massif. Their setting brings together water, rock and upland pasture in a compact section of the national park.
Visiting Picos de Europa: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Picos de Europa lies in northern Spain across Asturias, Cantabria and Castile and León. Cangas de Onis is an Asturian gateway, while Covadonga provides access to the western Cornión massif.
- The terrain rises from river valleys to Torre de Cerredo at 2,648 m (8,688 ft). Mountain routes include steep gradients, uneven limestone ground, exposed ridges and narrow gorges.
- The Covadonga Lakes sit above the sanctuary in high mountain terrain. The approach includes a winding road and walking routes across grassland and limestone.
- Cangas de Onis is connected with the park by roads and regional bus services. The Asturias Airport is the nearest major airport serving the wider region.
- The official language is Spanish and the currency is the euro.
Searching for Picos de Europa on social platforms
These links open searches for Picos de Europa on each platform.Frequently asked questions about Picos de Europa
Where is Picos de Europa?
Picos de Europa is in northern Spain, across Asturias, Cantabria and Castile and León. Cangas de Onis lies on the Asturian side near the western Cornión massif.
What can visitors expect in the mountains?
The landscape includes limestone peaks, deep gorges, forests, rivers, high pastures and the Covadonga Lakes. Routes range from valley walks to demanding high mountain terrain.
What makes Picos de Europa distinctive?
The range combines high limestone summits with Atlantic vegetation and a close connection to Covadonga and Asturian history. Torre de Cerredo reaches 2,648 m (8,688 ft), while the Deva River marks a much lower valley floor.
