Sotres
Encyclopedia
Sotres is a village
and parish
in the Asturian
municipality of Cabrales
, in Spain
, located 19 km from Carreña
, the municipal capital, in the eastern extreme of the province. The highest of all villages in the Picos de Europa National Park
, it is part of the designated Biosphere Reserve
and is sheltered by the peaks of the Andara (eastern) Massif and the Central Massif
of the Picos de Europa
, as well as the slopes of Pena Maín. It covers a land area of 38,1 km² and has a resident population of just 141 (INE 2005) that is almost outnumbered in summer by guests of the village's hostal
s.
The village is linked to the European GR footpath
network, being the arrival point of the GR-71 route known as the "Path of the Saja Nature Reserve" that begins in Corconte in Cantabria
and traverses the spectacular hills and valleys of the province. Now better known as a base for eco-tourism, Sotres has retained much of its agricultural identity and is one of the key producers of Queso de Cabrales
, the piquant blue cheese famously matured in the many limestone caves present in the surrounding mountains.
Like much of Asturias and rural Spain in general, Sotres has experienced significant depopulation since the early 1970s. As a result, construction of the Park's first ski resort at San Glorio
, which met with considerable opposition from conservation groups, has been largely supported by villagers who see it as a much needed boost to the area's dynamism, and a new mountaintop road from Sotres to the resort has already been approved by the Asturias regional government.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
and parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
in the Asturian
Asturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
municipality of Cabrales
Cabrales
Cabrales is a municipality in the autonomous community of Asturias, northwestern Spain. It is situated between the Sierra de Cuera and the Picos de Europa, and is a region famous for its Cabrales cheese....
, in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, located 19 km from Carreña
Carreña
Carreña is one of nine parishes in Cabrales, a municipality within the province and autonomous community of Asturias, in northern Spain.It is in size with a population of 452 .-Villages:# Asiego# Carreña# Pandellana...
, the municipal capital, in the eastern extreme of the province. The highest of all villages in the Picos de Europa National Park
Picos de Europa National Park
The Picos de Europa National Park is a National Park in the Picos de Europa mountain range, in northern Spain. It is shared by the autonomous communities of Asturias, Cantabria and Castile and León.-History:...
, it is part of the designated Biosphere Reserve
Biosphere reserve
The Man and the Biosphere Programme of UNESCO was established in 1971 to promote interdisciplinary approaches to management, research and education in ecosystem conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.-Development:...
and is sheltered by the peaks of the Andara (eastern) Massif and the Central Massif
Massif
In geology, a massif is a section of a planet's crust that is demarcated by faults or flexures. In the movement of the crust, a massif tends to retain its internal structure while being displaced as a whole...
of the Picos de Europa
Picos de Europa
The Picos de Europa is a range of mountains 20 km inland from the northern coast of Spain, located in the Autonomous Communities of Asturias, Cantabria and Castile and León, forming part of the Cantabrian Mountains...
, as well as the slopes of Pena Maín. It covers a land area of 38,1 km² and has a resident population of just 141 (INE 2005) that is almost outnumbered in summer by guests of the village's hostal
Hostal
A hostal is a type of lodging found mostly in Spain and Hispanic America. Hostales tend to be cheaper than hotels. They normally have a bar and/or a restaurant/cafeteria where drinks and food are sold to guests and locals alike....
s.
The village is linked to the European GR footpath
GR footpath
The Grande Randonnée , Grote Routepaden or Lange-afstand-wandelpaden , Grande Rota or Gran Recorrido is a network of long-distance footpaths in Europe, mostly in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain. In France alone, the trails cover approximately 60,000 km...
network, being the arrival point of the GR-71 route known as the "Path of the Saja Nature Reserve" that begins in Corconte in Cantabria
Cantabria
Cantabria is a Spanish historical region and autonomous community with Santander as its capital city. It is bordered on the east by the Basque Autonomous Community , on the south by Castile and León , on the west by the Principality of Asturias, and on the north by the Cantabrian Sea.Cantabria...
and traverses the spectacular hills and valleys of the province. Now better known as a base for eco-tourism, Sotres has retained much of its agricultural identity and is one of the key producers of Queso de Cabrales
Cabrales cheese
Cabrales is a cheese made in the artisan tradition by rural dairy farmers in the north of Spain. This cheese can be made from pure, unpasteurised cow’s milk or blended in the traditional manner with goat and/or sheep milk, which lends the cheese a stronger, more spicy flavor.All of the milk used...
, the piquant blue cheese famously matured in the many limestone caves present in the surrounding mountains.
Like much of Asturias and rural Spain in general, Sotres has experienced significant depopulation since the early 1970s. As a result, construction of the Park's first ski resort at San Glorio
San Glorio
San Glorio is a mountain pass in the Cantabrian Mountains of Northern Spain. The pass reaches an altitude of 1609 metres along the national highway N621 which connects the city of León with Cantabria and which passes through Asturias....
, which met with considerable opposition from conservation groups, has been largely supported by villagers who see it as a much needed boost to the area's dynamism, and a new mountaintop road from Sotres to the resort has already been approved by the Asturias regional government.