Asturias has iconic towns such as Cudillero or Lastres. However, the most beautiful in the entire region is, according to 'National Geographic', this village hidden between mountains, with less than 40 inhabitants and a rural essence intact since the Middle Ages. Surrounded by nature and history, its isolation has turned it into a journey through time.
Banduso is a medieval village hidden between meadows and mountains, with a small rural road as the only means of entry and exit. This privileged location has prevented mass tourism from reaching here, keeping its customs and architecture frozen in time. For this reason, it is considered an Asset of Cultural Interest.
Although the town is small, it has a lot of heritage to visit and that remains as it was eight centuries ago. Its most distinguishable jewel is the Torre de Tuñón, a defensive construction from the 13th and 14th centuries in masonry and ashlar. On its façade it maintains the noble coat of arms of the noble families of the time: the Tñón, the Miranda and the Banduso. In addition, the tower is integrated into the Palace, a baroque mansion from the 18th century that served as a Town Hall and prison in the past.
Another wonder that you will find walking through its historic neighborhoods and its stone paths between granaries and bread baskets from the 15th century is the church of Santa María, in Romanesque style and rebuilt in the 12th century, standing since then. I also recommend that you pay a visit to its cemetery, which continues to function as it did in the Middle Ages: it is communal and when someone dies, the oldest tomb is occupied.
The buildings from the Middle Ages are not the only spectacle that Banduso offers. There are spectacular hiking trails around it. The Bear Trail is a greenway where you can spot some of the last brown bears in the wild, safely and without affecting their ecosystem. In addition, the Medieval Trail that connects Banduso with Proaza is a beautiful 3-hour route between waterfalls and forests, ideal for disconnecting. The great plan is served, between mountains and a lot of silence.
