Bárcena Mayor

Bárcena Mayor is a small village in Cantabria and the only village within the Saja-Besaya Natural Park. The village is surrounded by mountains and forests and is said to be one of the oldest villages in Cantabria. It was declared a historic-artistic complex in 1979. While all of the Cantabrian mountain towns are beautiful, it’s the well-preserved streets and homes in Bárcena that really set it apart. It’s very small and you can explore the entire village in an hour or two.

You have to park in the visitors’ parking lot (it’s free) at the entrance to the town. It’s a great place to stock up on regional products like cheese (amazing), honey, and wild boar salami.

As I was driving home from a few days in Cantabria, I took a detour and stopped in Bárcena Mayor. Many people had recommended that I visit and I was actually very impressed with the picturesque little mountain village in the middle of the Saja-Besaya Natural Park. It’s really worth a visit both to visit the town and enjoy the surrounding wilderness.