In the province of León is a small welcoming town called Puebla de Lillo where you’ll get the chance to enjoy the history and the incredible natural spaces that decorate its surroundings and will allow you to live the complete tourism experience. It’s also right on the border with Asturias.
The locality has an altitude of 1,100 metres that the rivers Silván and Celorno flow through, which are its tributary. This is location one of its biggest characteristics as it makes for pleasant summer temperatures and cold humid winters with lots of snowfall.
It is precisely thanks to the snow that the mountains get their lovely white tint, meaning the winter season is also called the “ski season of San Isidro” which receives a large number of tourists looking to explore the four ski zones.
The map of the municipality is made up of nine localities that are home to almost 700 habitants including: Lillo, the most important as it’s the administrative centre, Cofiñal, Isoba, Caseríos de San Isidro, Puerto and Urbanización de San Isidro, Redipollos, Solle, San Cibrián de la Somoza and Camposolillo, a small town abandoned after the Porma reservoir flooded.
What is there to see? On a walk through the centre of the town you’ll get the chance to learn about its history and the different communities that previously settled there. It has also been a core communication centre between León and Asturias since the 10th century.
In terms of the religious patrimony it its worth highlighting the parish church of San Vicente that days back to the 16th century with a traditional sundial from 1780.
There were originally seven hermitages in the town, however nowadays there are only two still standing. One of them is the hermitage of las Nieves from the 18th century and the second one is the hermitage of Pegaruas.
In the centre there is also a turret, that was built on order of the Count Luna and that nowadays is a cultural centre and a model of the Picos de Europa national park after it was reconstructed due to a fire.
The Casa Blasonada used to also be in the centre, however, it was demolished for a hotel to be built but was also previously a cultural centre.
In the surroundings you’ll have the chance to take lots of photos of the Puebla de Lillo as it has a spectacular landscape full of vegetation and different animal species that roam about in the Pinar de Villaoscura, their natural habitat that falls within the municipality.
You’ll also be able to enjoy the different fairs, the majority related to stockbreeding, The most important ones are the livestock contest-exposition, which is celebrated in September. Some other important ones to have in mind are the slaughter days and the ski and wellbeing fair in November. There are also some mycology days in October if you’re a lover of mushrooms.
How can you get here? You have a lot of different options; however, the best way would be to come by car as it will allow you to explore the surroundings.
You should take advantage of your stay to spend a few nights in one of the holiday cottages in Puebla de Lillo or stay in a house in the mountains or book a charming hotel.
