Villages of the Ruta del Oso

Proaza

The greenway doesn't pass near the villages: it passes through them. Four municipalities with pre-Romanesque churches, cider houses and the human scale that makes the route taste of something more than kilometres.

Proaza is the mid-route stop par excellence: its old quarter sits 200 metres from the greenway (km 14), it has bars and restaurants for a vermouth or lunch, and it concentrates two big-name visits.

The first is the Casa del Oso (Bear House), headquarters of the Fundación Oso de Asturias and a museum devoted to the Cantabrian brown bear — the visit pairs perfectly with the viewpoint at the Fernanchín enclosure, a short stroll away.

The second is the village itself: the medieval tower of the Proaza family, the emblazoned manor houses and a square where parked bikes are part of the scenery.

With kids, the perfect plan writes itself: greenway from Proaza to the enclosure (2 flat km), a hello to Molina, the ride back and a snack in the square. The full guide is in what to see in Proaza.