What to see and do on your tourist visit to the Nalón Valley in Asturias

Asturias It offers you numerous attractions for a tourist trip, but there are some of them that are little known.

If you have already traveled to the most popular places in Asturias, how can they be Gijón, the coastal area of Llanes or Picos de Europa, you can consider discovering a more remote and different Asturias.

El Nalón Valley, located in the southeastern area of ​​Asturias, will surprise you with the combination between its cultural attractions and the very beautiful natural mountain landscapes.

And when I refer to cultural attractions, don't think about great architectural monuments, but about the concept of culture as a way of life.

History Nalón Valley The last century and a half has been marked by the economic development of the steel industry in the mining basins.

On the other hand, this development became a major drawback in attracting tourism, but the urban landscapes in which soot from the facades predominated, a consequence of the dirty polluting emissions of the aforementioned industry, are now only the past.

Indeed, after the disappearance of the steel industry in the 80s of the last century, in the Nalón Valley A recovery of the industrial legacy is being carried out as an exponent of a way of life.

Tu tourist visit of Nalón Valley of Asturias offers you, above all, the great contrast between the aforementioned industrial cultural heritage and a jewel of nature, such as the Redes natural parkdeclared Worldwide biosphere reserve, which is located very few kilometers from the conurbation of Langreo.

What to see in Nalón Valley

Next, I will recommend you what to see and visit on your tourist trip to the Nalón Valley in Asturias, which I was able to visit a couple of years ago.

1.- Musi, Steel Museum in La Felguera

The steel factory La Felguera, in the city of Langreo, built in the mid-19th century by Pedro Duro, went down in history with the steel conversion of the 80s.

But its former large cooling tower, now decorated in striking colors, is the main headquarters of the La Felguera Steel Museum, where through guided tours you can learn about the history of this industry in the Nalón Valley and, above all, the working and living conditions of the workers who lived off that development.

2.- Mumi, Museum of Mining and Industry

The steel industry was established in the Nalón Valley due to the proximity of the coal mines. Now you have the opportunity to visit the Museum of Mining and Industry, in El Entrego, where above all you will be impressed by the so-called Mine Image.

It is a replica of a full-scale mine where you can have sensations typical of the miners, and by walking through its gallery, learn how coal extraction was carried out at different times.

3.- Samuño Valley Mining Ecomuseum

In this process of recovery industrial cultural heritage of the Nalón Valley, an old mine has been recovered to create the Samuño Valley Mining Ecomuseum.

This enclave that opened to public visits in 2013 has as its great attraction the tour on a mining train that takes you to an interior gallery to, finally, climb in the metal basket of the old castle tower. San Luis Well.

4.- Entralgo, the traces of Palacio Valdés

In the village of Entralgo, already on the way to Redes natural park, you can discover the traces of the novel “The Lost Village” of the Asturian writer Palacio Valdés, walking through corners that were the protagonist of it.

5.- Redes Natural Park

Declared Worldwide biosphere reserve, Redes natural park It is the best reflection of the characteristic and lush landscapes of the Asturian mountains.

With the possibility of staying in rural houses, Industrial It is a clear invitation to go hiking and enjoy the beauty of the large, thick beech and chestnut forests.

The most popular place is the so-called Vega de Brañagallones, but you can also go up to other places like the Incós Hill, where you will have the opportunity to spot wildlife, such as chamois, roe deer or birds of prey.

6.- Casín cheese and Madreñas workshop

Tu visit to the Nalón Valley It will not be complete if you do not enjoy the most typical Asturian gastronomy in restaurants and winches area.

But you can also discover specialties typical of this Asturian area, such as Casin cheese, or artisanal habits such as manufacture of stems.

Enjoy your visit to the Nalón Valley.