Potes is one of the most attractive villages in Cantabria, in the north of Spain. The village is in the centre of the historic Liébana region, an area that is surrounded by spectacular mountains, with running streams and rivers. Its old quarter has the Property of Cultural Interest designation.

It streets have many bridges, as well as buildings and monuments with centuries of history. Potes was originally the dominion of the Infante Tello (14th century), son of King Alfonso XI of Castile, and in 1445 became the property of the Marquis of Santillana and his descendants, the dukes of El Infantado. Specifically, the tower known as the Torre del Infantado, a sturdy construction dating from the 15th century –and until recently the site of the Town Hall– is one of the most important monuments in the town today.

Other buildings and sites of interest in the capital of the historic region of Liébana include various stately homes and ancestral mansions such as the house-tower of Orejón de la Lama (Baroque), the San Vicente Parish Church, with architectural elements dating from the 14th to the 18th century, and the ancient bridges of San Cayetano and La Cárcel spanning the Quiviesa riverbed.

Its stunning natural surroundings also make Potes an ideal destination for sports at any time of year. The list is long: hiking, mountain biking, climbing, mountain skiing, paragliding, hunting, fishing... Make sure you sample the village cuisine, with dishes such as cocido lebaniego (chickpea casserole) and game stews. We should make special mention of the famous, traditionally distilled liqueurs, such as orujo. All these products are available every Monday at a traditional market with deep roots in the region. Potes celebrates its local festival, La Santísima Cruz, on 14 September. Furthermore, the busiest, most important livestock fair in all Cantabria takes place in November.