Just before arriving at our hotel we saw the magnificent Hotel del Oso from our car and we had to stop. We felt we had been bewitched by the sight of an impressive stone building with the most colorful flower pots and pretty garden. I had not seen a place this idyllic since we visited Switzerland. We would stop at this place again on our last day to have lunch before setting off to Madrid. My husband had to drag me away from this place. I didn't want to leave!
There's much more to see in Cantabria. This part of the region is in the National Park of Picos de Europa. It was the first National Park of Spain, and it was declared a Biosphere Reserve in 2003 by the UNESCO.
We arrived on a rainy afternoon at Parador de Fuente Dé, our hotel. The place is famous for its magnificent views and for being right next to the aerial cable car that takes you to the top of the mountain. The bad weather didn't keep us from exploring the area. After a traditional (and hearty) Cantabrian lunch, we started by visiting the closest villages.
MOGROVEJO
A charming little village full of stone houses with wooden balconies most of which were built in the 16-18th centuries. The breathtaking backdrop of the Picos de Europa mountain range is the icing on the cake.
A real life movie version of Heidi starring Bill Nighy and Arthur Weasley was actually shot in this village a year ago. 
Right next to the charming town of Potes you'll find the Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liebana and a vantage point with breathtaking views. The monastery was founded prior to the 6th century and it venerates that largest piece of the cross upon which Jesus was crucified discovered in Jerusalem by Saint Helena of Constantinople.
Potes is another small town in the heart of the Picos de Europa. A river runs through the town with a lovely small stone bridge crossing it. Potes is a good town stocking up on provisions since it's the biggest place around. 
Our favorite part of the hotel room was the window terrace. Every morning the cowbells woke us up and we opened the curtains to see cows and sheep grazing on the hillside, a bucolic landscape that we'll never forget.
We just had one thing left to do on our last day: take the aerial cable car to the top of the mountain. Fortunately, this was the day with the best weather. When we woke up there wasn't a single cloud in the sky. Even though it was the 1st of May it had snowed the night before, the snow made the landscape even more beautiful.
After that we took our last walk around the meadow and spent some time with the horses and sheep that were peacefully grazing surveilled by the shepherd dog.

In the next few weeks I'm going take you to the capital city of Cantabria, Santander and more fairy tale places like Comillas and Santillana del Mar. Stay tuned.
xo Cristina
Pin it!
This place looks absolutely incredible and I love all of your photos, particularly the ones with all of the flowers!
ReplyDeleteHeather xoxo
https://www.hefafa.me.uk
What a beautiful hotel and place to stay! The village seems also more than very nice! I'm sure you had a great stay!
ReplyDeletehttps://4highheelsfans.wordpress.com/2018/05/03/chantilly-day-4-apotheosis/
What a stunning and idyllic place - wow - I would love to visit there! xx
ReplyDeleteIt's gorgeous! The peaks are breathtaking, and the town is so quaint.
ReplyDeleteI can see the Pyrénées from where we live and they are still covered with snow.
It looks so pretty there!! I love how charming, and cute the town is too.
ReplyDeletehttp://sugarcoatedbears.blogspot.com/
wow, I've actually never been to Spain - this looks so beautiful and idyllic. the flowers are so pretty!
ReplyDeleteI have never been to this part of Spain. It is gorgeous! I'd chose this over a beach any day!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pics. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWhat amazing photos! I could totally relax for a few days in that setting!
ReplyDeleteNow this is a place I would want to live. Seriously it's gorgeous and the village is so quaint. Sounds like you had an amazing time. Thanks for sharing the pics!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mylittlenest.org
I too am a beach girl over mountain, but this place is lovely. I have actually heard of it before. Going to bookmark if for later adventures.
ReplyDeletehttp://travelingbugwiththreeboys-kelleyn.blogspot.ae/2018/05/tiptoeing-through-tulip.html
Wow the pictures are so nice !
ReplyDeletehttps://thefrenchiestblog.wordpress.com
Wow, amazing photos and what a lovely place! It sounds like you had a great time!
ReplyDeleteMaureen | www.littlemisscasual.com
Thanks, Heather! Give me pretty houses and flowers and I'm happy!
ReplyDeleteWe did, thanks!
ReplyDeleteVisit, if you ever have the chance. Totally worth it :)
ReplyDeleteYou live in a beautiful place too :)
ReplyDeleteIt was like a dream!
ReplyDeleteYou should visit some time!
ReplyDeleteOMgosh no wonder you didn't want to leave here! It's STUNNING!!! Loveing all the florals, cute villages and amazing landscape! #CityTripping
ReplyDeleteThat photo at the top of the mountain is incredible! Was it nerve wracking at all to take the aerial cable car up there?
ReplyDeleteYes, it's definitely a place to unwind!
ReplyDeleteMe too! I'd love to spend long periods of time there. Kind of a retreat
ReplyDeleteHope you get to go there!
ReplyDeleteWe did, Maureen! Wait to see the rest of the pics from the trip :)
ReplyDeleteThese photos are gorgeous!! I have yet to leave the U.S. but I very much hope to someday soon. I dream of vacations like this!
ReplyDeleteWow! it's beautiful there! Look at those flowers and cute houses!
ReplyDeleteI'm a big city and beach person as well, but I would love to visit this place.
ReplyDelete#MondayEscapes
A beautiful place to get lost! Lovely photos. Thanks for sharing with us at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2018/05/strange-sights.html
ReplyDeleteThis is so gorgeous!! And what a charming little town! Always love your travel pictures :)
ReplyDeleteKatherine | www.oneswainkycouple.com
Such stunning views and the blooms - everything looks so picturesque there!! xo, Biana -BlovedBoston
ReplyDeleteOK, adding this place to my bucket list (pinning too!) So beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteThe flowers! The shepherd dog! The cute towns! Love it all. Glad you had a great time in the mountains. The scenery really is breathtaking.
ReplyDelete-Kristin
countdowntofridayblog.com
Everything looks absolutely breathtaking, I would love to visit!
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot! I wish I had a house around there for a retreat every now and then.
ReplyDeleteIt's not the first time I take one, so I wasn't nervous. But I was glad the trip was only 3 minutes long ;)
ReplyDeleteYou must come to Spain, I'm sure you'd love it
ReplyDeleteI'm so in love with the place too!
ReplyDeleteThis looks like such a beautiful place. I am so in love with all the architecture and those brilliantly colored flowers!
ReplyDeleteThis looks beautiful! Every now and then it's so nice to have a quiet small town vacation.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!! I love how peaceful and beautiful it looks there.
ReplyDeleteThis looks absolutely amazing! i wish i could visit one day
ReplyDeleteLesley Kim
New post: Maximizing Space
Oh my gosh, this is beautiful! I've never been to Europe, but would love to go one day.
ReplyDeleteOmg sounds like a nice and relaxing time! Gorgeous photos.
ReplyDeletehttp://myclusterofthoughts.com/
A gorgeous place! Thanks for sharing this beautiful town with us!
ReplyDeleteWow, those flowers look so beautiful!
ReplyDeletewww.thesweetestclementine.com
Lovely photos, I’d love to explore more of north west Spain.
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous place!!!
ReplyDeleteI've been living in Spain for two years, but still have not explored this region much. It really does look like an absolute dream! Thanks for linking up with Ada and I for the Thursday Moda linkup!
ReplyDeleteNina
aworldofdresses.com
Oh my gosh I want to go there so bad! Beautiful pictures! Thanks for joining us at our style wise link up this week!
ReplyDeleteCheryl
www.northwestmountainliving.com
It's so beautiful! The flowers, the foggy views, the water, and that awesome dog! You would have had to drag me away as well! #CityTripping
ReplyDeleteI my goodness! What a stunning place! So dreamy! So beautiful! I would love to go there someday!
ReplyDeleteThese pictures are beautiful! I am more of a mountain girl than a beach girl and would love to visit these mountains!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mylittlenest.org
Oh my goodness! This town looks like something from a fairytale. Those mountains are stunning. Would love to visit this charming place!
ReplyDeleteWow - gorgeous shots. Love those stone houses.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't mind getting lost in that place too, such a gorgeous place! It has the most amazingly relaxing view.
ReplyDeleteJessica | notjessfashion.com
These pictures are stunning Christina! I love stone houses. The landscape looks amazing as well. sounds like your stay was heavenly! i am more of a mountain girl than a beach girl. Not that i would turn down either one!
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking!
jess xx
www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com
This looks like the perfect place to get lost!
ReplyDeleteLooks so idyllic. I used to watch Heidi when I was a child too. I didn’t realise a movie version had been filmed!
ReplyDeleteso pretty
ReplyDeleteThis looks just beautiful and idylic. I too loved Heidi as a child and quite fancy showing the movie version to the girls this weekend and then taking them to see the villages. Your photography is beautiful. Thanks for linking up to Monday Escapes.
ReplyDeleteSuch a charming little town! I love the photos and beautiful scenery. It is fun to sometimes visit a place outside our norm. Thanks for linking up with Fabulous Friday!
ReplyDeleteJennie - A Pocketful of Polka Dots
Wow, just wow, this place looks absolutely incredible and so picturesque! The mountains in the background are so beautiful as well.
ReplyDeleteJulia // The Sunday Mode
It's like a dream!
ReplyDelete