About the municipality

  • Population: 600
  • Area: 205,98 km2
  • Web: https://www.ponga.es/
  • Telephone: (+34) 985 843 001
  • E-mail: registro@ponga.es
  • Local Council address: Lugar Beleño, 21, 33557 S. Juan de Beleño, Asturias

Servicios

Primary school (1 school)
Secondary school
Nursery school (0 – 3 years) (1 school)
Healthcare centre / Medical practice (1 facility)
Pharmacy (1 pharmacy)
Bank branch / ATMs (1 facility)
Supermarket
Local shops
Petrol station
Casa de Cultura (Arts & Community Centre)
Library / Reading room
Sports facilities
Post office
(SDTL) Local technological promotion services

It also has an Interpretation Centre (San Juan de Beleño), a Senior citizens’ home (San Juan de Beleño), an Association for the Elderly (offering a wide range of courses throughout the year) and Social Services (Social Worker).
Every week they come through the different villages to be able to buy: Frozen foods, Fishmonger, Bakery (mini-shop), Greengrocer, Butcher…

Bus
Train
Taxi (2 companies)
Car rental
Bike & Rollerblade rental
Campervan and Motorhome stopover
Internet connectivity
Optic fibre
5G mobile connection
Coworking facilities
Telework facilities
Business incubators
Business centres
Hotels
(https://parquesnaturalesasturias.com/parque-natural-de-ponga/alojamientos
https://www.escapadarural.com/casas-rurales/ponga)
Rural houses
(https://parquesnaturalesasturias.com/parque-natural-de-ponga/alojamientos
https://www.escapadarural.com/casas-rurales/ponga)
Hostels
(https://parquesnaturalesasturias.com/parque-natural-de-ponga/alojamientos)
Cottages
(https://parquesnaturalesasturias.com/parque-natural-de-ponga/alojamientos
https://www.escapadarural.com/casas-rurales/ponga)
Hostel
(ALBERGUER MUNICIPALES (POLA DE ALLANDE, BERDUCEDO Y LA MESA) Y ALBERGUES PRIVADOS (LA CASITA DE ABA, ALBERGUE CAMINO PRIMITIVO, ALBERGUE CASA MARQUÉS Y ALBERGUE CAMÍN ANTIGUO))
Rental housing
Public rental housing
Coliving
Camping
Mountains
Hiking trails
Recreational areas
Rivers Sella river, Ponga river
Green spaces and forests
Protected natural areas Ponga Natural Park
Lowest point of the Municipality: 212 m above sea level

Highest point of the Municipality: 2.133 m above sea level

Climbing, hiking, cycling, horse riding, abseiling…

The Carangues river, a tributary of the Ponga river, tumbles 400 meters down from the valley where the village of Carangues is situated. This spot boasts one of the most remarkable canyons in Asturias, featuring over 30 descents, some as high as 40 metres. This adventure takes around 5 to 7 hours to complete. Its flow is constant, but greatly affected by drought.

Swimming pools
Beaches
Rivers
Reservoirs
Lakes
Spa / Thermal Waters
Security level: Very high
Noise pollution level: Extremely low
Light pollution level: Extremely low
Traffic level: Muy bajo
Air quality index (AQI): Reasonably good
Los Beyos cheese and homemade Asturian cuisine at restaurants across the municipality; also a bakery in Santillán for homemade sweet and savoury treats.
It has 35 accommodation establishments (capacity for 287 people). Categorised as rural hotels, rural houses, or rural apartments, all of them hold their respective quality certifications from the Principality of Asturias. he diverse range of accommodations is enhanced by an old spa house, La Casona de Mestas, although its thermal pool is not wheelchair accessible.
While the summer months are indeed the most appealing for tourism in Ponga, one should not overlook other times of the year. Autumn and winter rural tourism offers charming places far from the hustle and bustle.

Restaurant in San Juan de Beleño: La Fonda de Ponga

Restaurants in Sobrefoz: Casa Severa and Casa Benigna

El Cascayu (Abiegos)

La Corralada (Viego)

La Casona de Mestas (rural hotel & restaurant)

Restaurants in Sellaño : Casa Ricardo (rural hotel & restaurant) and Casa Hermógenes

LLagares (cider houses) where you can drink, buy homemade cider and Asturian cheeses: Bar Chigre del Llagarín (Sellaño)

Hotel-Restaurante Puente Vidosa (Vidosa)

The municipality boasts ethnographic elements such as “hórreos” (traditional granaries on pillars) and ancient mills, such as those of Vibolí, which are currently in a state of ruin. But perhaps the most remarkable originality of the area lies in the “hórreos”, used to protect the cereal and potato crops from rodents. In the Beyos area, the “hórreos” known as “beyuscos” have a unique characteristic of being covered with a gabled roof to suit the high mountains. This feature is common in the area, but in San Ignacio, there is one that has a three-sided roof. They can still be seen in the villages of Viboli, Casielles, Tolivia and Rubriellos, although some are already in ruins.

The old shepherds’ huts, also present in the municipality, would also fall into this category. There are numerous examples of typical and popular architecture in Ponga. The area is full of historical buildings such as palaces, “casonas” (Asturian style mansions), country houses, churches, “horreos” and “paneras” (granaries), “cortes” (stables) and huts.

Several churches and hermitages survive today, albeit with minor modifications. We come across historic temples like the ones in Viego or Carangas, modest chapels like the one in Casielles, more spacious ones like those in Beleño or Taranes, or mountain hermitages amidst the meadows like the ones in Arcenoriu or Ventaniella. These buildings represent a rich historical and cultural heritage.

In the population centres, we find grand palaces with heraldic symbols, expansive houses with old-fashioned galleries, simple two-story rural homes, and so on, all of them forming neighbourhoods with their own unique identities. Clear examples of heraldic or armoury palaces include the medieval Tower of Cazo, the former jail-fortress, the Rubín house in Viego, or the Sobrefoz palace. These are civil constructions from the 17th century, whose models were repeated until the influence of the Americas arrived in the late 19th century. They are spacious buildings with multiple sections built on stone sills, featuring linteled doors, large entrance gates, multi-sloped roofs, projecting eaves, and long corridors or galleries.

However, undoubtedly, the most representative of rural architecture are the peasant houses, often attached to the barn or haystack and close to the granaries used for storing the harvest. The most common type is the portal house with a corridor, rectangular in shape, with a simple construction of limestone and a gabled roof with two, three, or four slopes.

The “Indiano-style” mansions, built by immigrants who returned rich from America, stand out from the others due to their height and decorative detail. Inside them, you can find ceramic floors, colourful tiles on the walls, stained glass windows, iron and wood railings or balusters, and high-quality furniture previously unknown in the region.

The Beyos Cheese Contest (first Sunday in December)

FESTIVALS AND TRADITIONS

Undoubtedly, the most representative and officially recognized regional tourist event is the Aguinaldo Festival of San Juan de Beleño. The “aguinalderos”, who are gift bearers, ride on horseback, preceded by children on donkeys. Together, they visit both the villages of Beleño and Cainava, singing and asking for “aguinaldos” (gifts) from the households in the parish, wishing for health and prosperity. A drawing is held to select young men and women, from which couples emerge. It is the duty of the young men to give a gift to the young women, and in return, the young women are expected to provide a snack.

On January 1st at noon, the young men gather, and among them, the “guirria” appears. This mythical character is dressed in blue and red, wearing a mask and a hood, and he embraces women while throwing ashes on men. Subsequently, there are separate dinners for both children and young men, and the festivities conclude with a dance.

Variations of this festival are celebrated in the towns of Sobrefoz and in the Parish of Cazo. In Sobrefoz, it takes place on January 1st, and women and married individuals also participate. In the Parish of Cazo, they seek blessings for the six towns that make it up (Sellaño, Tribierto, Priesca, Cazo, Ambingue, and Los Lladeros). In this case, the horses are adorned with colourful bouquets.

Certain medieval traditions are still preserved, focusing on the use of communal resources and significant festivities. Furthermore, in Sobrefoz, the distribution of communal lands among the residents is a noteworthy tradition, with parcels being individually exploited.

Other types of festive traditions are still maintained, such as the placing of a bouquet on the balcony of the girls during the night of San Juan or the bonfire of San Juan, both in San Juan de Beleño.

In the rest of the villages, traditional celebrations combine religious events, homemade cuisine, children’s games, music, and general merriment. The most prominent of these celebrations are dedicated to the patron or patroness of the village. They typically involve a church service with a procession, accompanied by fireworks and bell ringing. Afterwards, families gather for meals, children’s games, traditional bowling, and dancing. Local Festivities:

– May 15th: San Isidro in Beleño

– June 13th: San Antonio in Abiegos.

– June 24th: San Juan in Beleño.

– June 28th: San Pedro in Sobrefoz.

– First weekend in July: Santu VIboli

– July 16th: Nuestra Señor del Carmen in Beleño

– Last weekend of July: San Ignacio

– August 4th and 5th: Nuestra Señora de las Nieves in Cazo

– August 6th: Nuestra Señora de las Nieves in Sellaño

– August 9th: San Justo in Cainava

– August 10th and 11th: Nuestra Señora in Abiegos

– August 15th and 16th: Nuestra Señora in Viego and Taranes

– And the following Friday: – La Costillada in Beleño (countryside barbecue)

Without a doubt, it’s worth mentioning the countryside festivities, such as “La Santina” in both Arcenorio and Ventaniella, or the “Arándanu” in San Juan de Beleño. These events take place in open fields in the morning (such as the “Arándanu” in Les Bedules), where attendees participate in outdoor religious ceremonies and engage in the auction of the “ramu”, a traditional branch decorated with breads and often adorned with ribbons. Afterwards, a countryside meal is served, accompanied by traditional songs sung to the tunes of bagpipes and drums.

Local Festivities:

– El “Arándanu”: penultimate Saturday in August.

– La Santina de Ventaniella: first Saturday in September.

– The Santina of Arcenorio: 8th September.

The Santina de Arcenorio pilgrimage is considered to be the Asturian pilgrimage held at the highest altitude (around 1,500 metres).

Livestock fairs are held in the summer or autumn to sell the cattle raised throughout the year. Sellers, buyers, and local artisans of typical products such as cheese and honey gather from early in the morning. Among the most significant is that of Sellaño on December 8th.

Asociación El Prial (Volver al Pueblo / Back to the Village) (cultural association)
Asociación de Mayores de Ponga (senior citizens’ association)
Health Centre
Interpretation Centre of the Ponga Natural Park
Senior Care Home
CRA Picos de Europa “Escuelas de Beleño” (State Primary School)
AMPA (parents’ association)
Cangas de Onís Red Cross
On occasion, the Red Cross of Cangas de Onís hosts events in collaboration with volunteers.
Ponga boasts a rugged natural setting, nestled amidst mountains and forests, creating the ideal backdrop for a wide range of outdoor activities like hiking and abseiling, among others. And when it’s time to refuel, you can’t go wrong with the delectable and diverse local cuisine.
It’s a great place to find inspiration, work in peace, and if you love nature and mountain sports, there are countless spots to enjoy the outdoors, with its trails, forests, and mountains.
Some areas, especially in the Sellaño region, may have limited cell phone coverage. However, you can find several free internet access points in San Juan de Beleño.

Ponga, whose territory has been declared a Natural Park and Biosphere Reserve , is a paradise for active tourism. In addition to the immense possibilities for hiking, in places as emblematic from the point of view of the rich woodland as the dense beech forest of Peloño, there is also the possibility of enjoying white water rafting and canyoning, the latter in the canyons of Vibuli and Carangres. Ponga therefore offers all versions of water: high mountain rivers, such as the Ponga and the bordering Sella, waterfalls, canyons and also high quality thermal waters in the Mestas Spa. To top it all off, there is a public swimming pool with incredible views of the Tiatordos and the Ponga mountain range.

Its orography, steep and abrupt, is also ideal for cycling enthusiasts, who can carry out activities with hybrid bicycles. If what we prefer is art, heritage and ethnography, there is always the option of visiting the Ecomuseum of Beleño dedicated to wood and located in the capital San Xuan/SanJuan de Beleño, visit the hermitages of Ventaniella or Arcenorio, the palace of Sobrefoz, the Señoriu de Cazu or the Villages of Tarañes or Viegu…and thus have a complete vision of what Ponga contributes to the landscape, culture and customs in Asturias.