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THE LEBANIEGO WAY (Cantabria)
Potes and the final embrace
of the sanctuary
The route culminates in Potes, considered
one of the most beautiful villages in Spain.
Its heraldic houses, cobbled alleyways
and vibrant rural life invite visitors to pau-
se. Here, in addition to tasting artisanal
orujo or sweets such as canónigos or fri-
suelos, one can visit wool or wood works-
hops, family-run distilleries, accompany a
shepherd in the heights of Bejes or take
part in activities linked to the region’s na-
tural heritage.
Just four kilometres away stands the mo-
nastery of Santo Toribio, both destination
and symbol, home to the Lignum Crucis
(the largest known fragment of Christ’s
cross recognised by the Church). Rea-
ching the temple, embraced by Mount La
Viorna, is not only a milestone for the be-
liever, but also for any traveller who sought
to find something along the way: peace, si-
lence, emotion, or simply the joy of having
arrived.
2025: a year to walk with
purpose
With the Jubilee of Religious Tourism as
the major spiritual and cultural event of
the year, 2025 becomes the ideal moment
to walk this path that unites
history, nature, spirituality
and pleasure. Cantabria is,
in fact, the only region in the
world through which two ju-
bilee pilgrimage routes pass,
both declared UNESCO
World Heritage Sites. Each
has its own Holy Year of Ju-
bilee: the Coastal Camino,
towards Santiago de Com-
postela, and the Camino Le-
baniego itself, leading to the
Monastery of Santo Toribio
in Liébana—remarkable for
its ability to unite the sacred
and the everyday, the inner
and the outer.
And if there’s one thing this
path offers, it’s transforma-
tion. One does not return
the same after crossing its
valleys, sharing a table with
strangers, or gazing at the
Picos de Europa from a sto-
ne shelter. Because more
than a destination, the Cami-
no Lebaniego is a complete
experience.
Potes Confluencia del río Quiviesa con el río Deva
That´s the way Le-
baniego is not only
walked with the feet,
but also with the
heart. It is an invita-
tion to pause, to listen
to the silence of the
mountains, and to
rediscover what is es-
sential. Because be-
tween each step and
each encounter, this
path leaves a mark
that does not fade.
And in the end, more
than having arrived
at a place, one feels
they have returned to
themselves
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