Mogrovejo: a Shangri-Lá in the Picos de Europa

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There are places that, both for their uniqueness and for the impressive environment in which they are located, are reminiscent of that idyllic paradise, the central theme of James Hilton's novel, 'Paradise Lost', later adapted to cinema screens by Frank Capra, in the year 1937, whose name, Shangri-La, has remained marked in the memory of men, like that dreamy Eden, in which we all would like to live.

One of many places, with similar characteristics, that exist in that imposing and metaphorical universe of myths and insurmountable scenarios, which are the Picos de Europa -geographical accident, which shares prominence with Asturias, Cantabria, Palencia and to a lesser extent, with León- It is a small town, with barely fifty inhabitants, whose name, Mogrovejo, I hope you take note of, for occasional adventures in the future.

Located in the heart of La Liébana and more specifically, in the Camaleño region, just ten kilometers away from Potes and a little less than twenty from Fuente Dee and the vertiginous 'stairway to heaven' - to paraphrase the Led Zeppelin group - which is its chilling cable car, Mogrovejo, it could be said, that it is a town that enjoys the vigorous health provided by the wonderful natural environment in which it is located, on the edge of the impressive Andara massif, but also the impressive beauty of its rural architecture, with its ancestral houses (solid village and native constructions, which are characterized by that happy marriage between stone and wooden coffered ceilings, with spacious rooms and beautiful terraces, where, together with the traditional drying rack, there is never a lack of a varied range of pots with assorted flowers), the presence, in its beautiful meadows, of that comparative natural gold, which, for Neolithic men and later, for the inhabitants of these places, was always cattle and the presence, in the center of the town, a solid witness to the feudal history of our country, such as its 13th century tower.

An impressive ensemble, on the other hand, which was chosen as the ideal setting for films such as 'Heidi, Queen of the Mountains', due to its great resemblance to the Swiss Alps and which, in addition, has earned it other notable recognitions, such as receiving the title of 'Town of Cantabria', in 2017 and more recently, in 2020, having been declared, deservedly, the 'Most Beautiful Town in Spain'.

But Mogrovejo also constitutes an excellent base of operations, from which to practice, with more or less difficulty, that old art of hiking and adventure, so required today, which makes us connect with dream places, such as the viewpoint of Santa Catalina, with mythological environments, such as those small rivers and fountains, which are born in the depths of caves and mountains, always surrounded by a halo of mystery and the indisputable presence of those charming nymphs, who in these places, as well as by the neighboring communities of Asturias and León, they continue to be known as Xanas or Anjanas.

Xanas or Anjanas, who, as genuine scholars, invaluable compilers of the rich and abundant Cantabrian-Asturian folklore, such as Constantino Cabal or Aureliano de Llano, would very well affirm, would not be, but a derivation of that goddess, guardian of forests and natural environments, known to the Classical World as Diana.

Hiking routes, which also allow access to other small rural communities, more difficult to access for vehicles, such as Redo and even the possibility of staying in unforgettable rural mansions or camping in a Camping, such as La Viorna, enjoying that effective remedy against the stress of big cities, in full contact with an always surprising nature.

But, without a doubt, what can be equally or even more emotional is the immeasurable pleasure of walking through the streets of this unforgettable place and surrendering, unconditionally, to the fascinating seduction of an architecture, of which one could well say, which maintains the pride and charisma of other times.

NOTICE: Both the text and the photographs that accompany it, as well as the video that illustrates it, are my exclusive intellectual property and, therefore, are subject to my Copyright.

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