Just 15 minutes from Santander, Solares is one of the least known towns in Cantabria but famous for the green mountains that surround it, its historic palaces but, above all, for housing a monumental century-old spa. Therefore, this small municipality of Medio Cudeyo has a thermal tradition. That, added to being located in an environment that already invites you to walk slowly and enjoy the details, makes it a most desirable detox destination.
Without a doubt, the heart of Solares is its thermal spa, known since the 18th century for the properties of the waters of the Fuencaliente spring. Since then, these hot springs have attracted visitors seeking everything from medical treatments to a sophisticated summer resort. The first bathhouse was built in 1827 and, with its success, neo-Mudejar and oriental style buildings followed, interspersed with gardens and terraces that reflected the discreet and timeless luxury of the Belle Époque.
Medio Cudeyo City Council
By the end of the 19th century, the Santander bourgeoisie had converted the spa into a leisure center, not only for health treatments but also as a place for recreation. The Gran Hotel de Solares, inaugurated in 1902 and today converted into the modern Castilla Termal Solares, has preserved intact that elegance of the past with centuries-old gardens, spacious rooms and galleries that transport you to another era.
But Solares is more than its spa. Its streets and surroundings are full of history and beautiful architecture such as: the Palace of the Marquises of Valbuena, the Palace of the Rubalcaba, the hermitage of San Pedro and the early medieval site of Pico Castillo (declared an Asset of Cultural Interest). In addition to the Mina Pepita Mythological Park, an old mining exploitation that turns local tradition into an interactive walk through Cantabrian history.
Medio Cudeyo City Council
For nature lovers, Solares also offers easy but spectacular routes: from the Peña Cabarga Massif, with panoramic views of Santander and its bay, to the Solía and San Salvador marshes, a refuge for birds and those seeking to explore the environment in depth. However, as could not be expected, the town is also the starting point of the thermal route, which connects Solares with Liérganes in about seven kilometers of history, nature and well-being.
And if gastronomy is part of the trip, because Solares does not disappoint when it comes to food. The local cuisine benefits from regional products such as artisan cheeses, seasonal vegetables, fish and seafood from the Cantabrian sea or meat from nearby livestock farms. All this makes the town a destination where culture, rest and pleasure mix in a restorative way.
https://turismo.mediocudeyo.es/medio-cudeyo/presentacion/
Because at Solares, luxury is not measured by ostentation, but by the experience of immersing yourself in historic healing waters and letting the fresh air of northern Spain work its magic. In short, it is a town that shows that simple pleasures are eternal and that the magic of Belle Époque is still alive.
Cover photo | @castillatermalsolares
