Asturias to León: Somiedo, Las Médulas and the Camino
From Oviedo’s pre-Romanesque halls over the bear country of Somiedo to Roman gold mines, Gaudí in Astorga and León’s glass cathedral.
- Distance
- 297 km (185 mi)
- Driving
- 4 h 06 min
- Suggested days
- 5
- Stops
- 9
- Countries
- Spain
- Updated
- August 14, 2026
At a glance: 5-day road trip of about 297 km (185 mi) with 9 stops, from Oviedo to León Cathedral. About 4 h 06 min of driving in total.
Route description
Before leaving Oviedo, drive up Monte Naranco to Santa María del Naranco, a ninth-century royal hall that is one of the treasures of Asturian pre-Romanesque. Then head west on the AS-15 and south on the AS-227 up the Pigüeña valley to Pola de Somiedo, in a natural park known for its brown bears.
A side road leads from Pola to the hamlet of Valle de Lago, start of a walk past thatched herders’ huts to a glacial lake. Back on the AS-227 the road climbs to the Puerto de Somiedo, at about 1,480 m, and crosses into León; it can be snowbound in winter, so check before you go. Descend through Villablino to Ponferrada, with its big Templar castle.
South-west of Ponferrada lie Las Médulas, a landscape of red peaks and chestnut woods left by Roman gold mining. Walk the trails from the village, then drive to the Mirador de Orellán for the view. Next follow the Camino de Santiago east on the A-6 to Astorga, where Gaudí designed the bishop’s palace next to the cathedral.
End in León, where the Gothic cathedral has some of the most beautiful stained glass in Europe, and the evening tapas in the Barrio Húmedo often come free with a drink. Late spring to early autumn is best for the mountains; the Somiedo roads are narrow but paved.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Oviedo
Spain - 23 km
Santa María del Naranco
HistoryOviedo, SpainA ninth-century royal hall on the slope above Oviedo, a rare jewel of Asturian pre-Romanesque architecture. The small church of San Miguel de Lillo stands just up the lane.
- 356 km
Pola de Somiedo
Spain - 48 km
Valle de Lago, Somiedo
NatureSomiedo, SpainA hamlet at the end of a mountain road in Somiedo Natural Park, starting point for the walk to a glacial lake past thatched herders’ huts. Brown bears live in these mountains; ask locally about viewpoints.
- 582 km
Templar castle of Ponferrada
HistoryPonferrada, SpainA large walled castle once held by the Knights Templar, on the Camino de Santiago where it enters El Bierzo. Inside is a library of facsimile medieval books.
- 621 km
Las Médulas
NatureLas Médulas, SpainRed peaks among chestnut trees, left by Roman gold mining that washed away whole mountains; a World Heritage Site. Walk from the village, then drive to the Mirador de Orellán for the view from above.
- 773 km
Gaudí’s Episcopal Palace, Astorga
HistoryAstorga, SpainA neo-Gothic bishop’s palace designed by Gaudí, now a museum of the Camino de Santiago, next to the cathedral. Stay for a cocido maragato, a hearty local stew.
- 854 km
León
Spain - 90 km
León Cathedral
HistoryLeón, SpainA Gothic cathedral famous for its stained glass, so extensive that the walls seem made of light. Visit on a sunny morning, then eat tapas in the Barrio Húmedo nearby.
