Palencia information
Natural Park of Fuentes Carrionas and Fuente Cobre
In the most remote and inaccesible border lands of the province of Palencia, lies a spectacular, almost unknown, mountain range. Its peaks and crests, sculpted into the hard tight mountain limestone, rise over 2,500 metres and give form to a singular relief of fantastic needles, impressive precipices, proud cliffs and deep valleys. There are also many lakes of glacial origin in the area.
Two important rivers have their sources in these mountains, the Carrión and the Pisuerga. The first of the two rises in steep heart of the mountains and its source - the lake of Fuentes Carrionas which gives its name to the whole county - is so isolated that it is even possible to find the footprints of several pairs of brown bears. The river Pisuerga rises from the Fuente del Cobre - a gentler landscape, where beech and deciduous oak woods predominate.
Northern Palencia also contains one of the largest and most notable collections of Romanesque art in the world.
RESTRICTIONS:
In view of the brown bear population, the Servicio Territorial de Medio Ambiente de la Junta de Castilla y León has temporarily restricted visitor access and transit in various Zonas de Reserva y Uso Limitado (Reserved and limited use zones) in the municipalities of La Pernía, Polentinos and Cervera de Pisuerga within the geographical limits affected by the Plan for the Regulation of Natural Resources of the Natural Space Fuentes Carrionas and Fuente Cobre-Montaña Palentina (Palencia).
These restrictions affect tourist and recreational use, but do not affect landowners nor persons holding land use rights, particularly forest, hunting, or farming rights, who will have free access to these areas for the purpose of the relevant permitted activities.
Restriction period:
1st February to 31st May.
SPORTS:
Hiking, mountaineering, climbing, cycling, water sports, hunting, fishing.