Taramundi is a municipality in the Principality of Asturias near to the border with Galicia and in close proximity to Lugo. The main village is also called Taramundi and it boasts a number idyllic walks that you will most certainly fall in love with. It is a place of rivers flowing through maintains and valleys, and you simply cannot fail to fall for this enchanting region. The calming ripple of water is never far away so, if you’re looking to leave the hustle and bustle behind you, this is an unbeatable holiday destination. But nature is not all you will find in this land of windmills, knife makers and blacksmiths. The architectural and cultural legacy of the area, its museums, its crafts and its cuisine make it an even more attractive place to visit.
There is plenty to see in Taramundi. The area pioneered rural tourism and the range of trails you will find in this corner of Asturias make it a hiker’s paradise. Walkers find themselves in a bucolic setting, with some of Asturias’ oldest granaries, churches, hydraulic inventions and a hillfort all to be contemplated on the way. In Taramundi, nature and culture are at one.
Taramundi: find out more about its history
The area around Taramundi is mountainous. San Martín church has an eye-catching thin tower and it was rebuilt in the 18th century. It is a beautiful sight in this fantastic natural environment. There are four impressive gold and polychrome altarpieces from the early 16th century inside the church. There are also many interesting paintings and sculptures. Once you have visited the church, head to La Rectoral. It is an old rectory which was converted into one of Spain’s first rural retreats. Step onto the terrace and fall in love with the amazing view of the valley.
Taramundi hillfort: stepping back in time
On the outskirts of the town, don’t miss this opportunity to take a look at Taramundi hillfort. It is incredibly interesting and one of the best examples of a hillfort in Asturias. Several excavations on the site have revealed that there was once a Bronze Age settlement here. The remains of a wall and numerous buildings, including a sauna, date from the Roman occupation in the 1st and 2nd centuries. Taramundi hillfort, situated next to Eo River, was an important area for trade during that period. Nowadays, it helps to keep the memory of a glorious past alive.
Os Teixos: a very special hamlet
Os Teixos is located four kilometres from Taramundi and, since 1989, it has undergone careful restoration. When you plan your holiday in Taramundi, you simply must include a trip to this small, rustic hamlet where something really quite special awaits you. It has one of the oldest ethnographic ensembles in Asturias, including samples of various hydraulic inventions that delight visitors of all ages.
You can see how different mechanisms, including an iron forge, a mill, a grinding stone, a fulling mill and a small electrical power station, work. You will learn how water power was used to work with iron and for other day-to-day activities.
Fairytale As Veigas
Another of the region’s top trails is the one that takes hikers to As Veigas (eight kilometres from Taramundi). It is right in the heart of the Oscos-Eo Biosphere Reserve and, if you take the winding mountain road, you will find the hamlet at the bottom of the valley.
If you are a lover of Tolkein’s Lord of the Rings, you simply cannot fail to notice the resemblance with the hobbits’ district. There are constant reminders of the film in Taramundi. However, the similarities are even greater in this enchanting place which is a leading hub of rural tourism. The surrounding forests and the river make As Veigas an ideal place to revel in the sound of silence and find time to sit back and relax. It is also a great place to enjoy fishing, canoeing, horse trekking and mushroom picking. On top of all that, it is within easy reach of the coast.
Taramundi and the art of knife making
Knife making is yet another of the region’s distinguishing features. Taramundi is a leading enclave for the manufacture and sale of these artisan products. It is hard to leave without buying one of the famous penknives. If you want to know more about the ins and outs of the profession, head towards the hamlet of Pardiñas. There you will find the Knife Museum of Taramundi. Visitors get a wonderful insight into a long-standing tradition which was also commercially significant in the late 19th century. The museum houses examples of penknives and knives and you can watch a live demonstration of how an artisan penknife is made.
Eating out in Taramundi: traditional recipes
If you love good food, then this is yet another great reason to choose Taramundi as your holiday destination. This area of Asturias is also known for its excellent cuisine and artisan produce. Dishes are homemade using traditional recipes that have been handed down from generation to generation. Beef, fabes (local beans) and trout caught in local rivers are some of the typical dishes that you will find. You might also like to try a platter of cold meats or cheese. Both cow’s milk and goat’s milk cheeses are commonplace and sometimes they are made with dried fruit, hazelnuts or walnuts. Of course, you really cannot leave without tasting the splendid fermented cider made in local cider mills.
Taramundi: brimming with restaurants
You will have no trouble finding a good restaurant on this holiday. Los Arándanos is a well-known restaurant in the village of Taramundi. In addition to its excellent food, it has wonderful views of the countryside. They serve creative dishes made using organic ingredients. Solleiro, a stone cider house with its own granary and a superb terrace, is a great local classic. It’s an excellent place to enjoy traditional, local food or just taste the cider and gaze at the views.
El Mazo restaurant in the Os Teixos ethnographic ensemble is yet another great spot to try some tasty, inexpensive homemade dishes. Mesón Mazonovo is a restaurant that shares its facilities with the Mill Museum in Mazonovo. The Cabreira and Turía Rivers meet in this idyllic spot. It is a very homely, rustic place that serves homemade trout dishes, fabes and desserts.
