Tresviso, the most isolated village in Cantabria
The name Tresviso has a meaning in itself. It comes from an evolution of the Latin expression trans visum, which derived in the Cantabrian tres-visu. Experts assure that it means ‘behind the abyss’. Although it is not officially confirmed, a walk through its surroundings can give a good account of this feeling of being in the middle of nowhere. Behind everything. The history of this village, which is considered the most isolated of Cantabria, dates back to the early Middle Ages. It leaves only wonder how, at what time and in what way a group of people ended up building a home in this refuge between mountains. An impregnable place since its foundation, it continues to be a place of complex access.
Tresviso is located on the western border of the province of Cantabria, bordering Asturias. In fact, the only way to reach it, by road, is from the Asturian town of Sotres. It is a route that commands the respect of those who feel they are invading the mountain. For those who want to cross it on foot, this Cantabrian village can be crowned starting from the Urdón river, a route that is worth doing at least once in a lifetime.
Tresviso, a refuge of peace. | Shutterstock
Visitors who mark Tresviso with a thumbtack on their maps are probably looking for two things. First, disconnection. Given its geographical location, Tresviso exists outside the rush of the world. Of course, this concept, which can be taken to a romantic-bucolic level, has its enormous shortcomings. Not only the depopulation that is found in places like this, but also the conditions to which, on many occasions, its inhabitants are subjected. The absence or lack of basic services or weather conditions, such as snowfall, which can isolate Tresviso for weeks.
With around 60 inhabitants, this small village is, in any case, a place of peace, for the traveler, of those rushes and that noise. It is also, as a result of all this, a place of connection with nature. This is another of the great reasons why there are those pins on the maps. Tresviso is a balcony to the Picos de Europa.
It belongs to the region of Liébana, its stone houses typical of the mountains and the atmosphere is not far from all this. At 900 meters above sea level, it is the highest town in Cantabria. Here, one can enjoy its church, dating from the early 20th century, its local establishments and stress-free walks. Sooner or later, one should be encouraged to take some of the many hiking trails that pulsate around the village.
The Tresviso-Urdón route is one of the favorites for mountain lovers. | Shutterstock
The views that Tresviso offers help the traveler to understand the greatness of the Picos de Europa, one of the most impressive natural sites in the country and the continent. This national park is an immersion in the immensity of the mountains in particular, of nature in general, a feeling that can be experienced starting from this spot of Cantabria.
The Urdón valley extends below Tresviso. It is part of the basin of the aforementioned river, which flows through a gorge populated by a forest of oaks and other species. The route that joins the river and the village is one of the favorite routes for hikers, because although it may involve a certain difficulty, both the journey and the destination, up or down, is worth it. Another of the routes that start from the village is the one that leads to the summit of Horcadura del Cantu, which reaches an altitude of 1,200 meters. From here you can contemplate, on the best days, the great Central massif of the park.
One of the images that can be enjoyed on this route between village and river. | Shutterstock
Visiting Tresviso in Cantabria means visiting a unique village. Because one understands better the terrible consequences of depopulation and isolation, but also because one feels closer than ever to nature and what the world offers and people have tended to forget. It is important to know and understand both.
