Bolín Bridge over the Cares River in the Picos de Europa National Park, León (Spain)

How wrong are those in Spain who go to Switzerland in search of picturesque heights having here these huge and impressive 

mountains!

Alfonso III, king of Spain

about Picos de Europa

Puente de la Estación (Station Bridge) crossing the Bernesga River in Pola de Gordón, León (Spain)

Next to the Bernesga is known the existence of a cuélebre or winged serpent, which required from the local people a daily sheep for food. Not having sheeps left the serpent demanded maidens. It had to be San Lorenzo who ended with this monster. The cuélebre bones are preserved into a coffin in the nearby church of San Lorenzo, but it is said that the one who look into it, will become blind.

Legend of the Bernesga River

Bridge in the region of Babia, León (Spain)

You may not be aware of it, but you probably spend a lot of time in Babia. Most people do, even though they may not know it really exists. You see Babia is a remote corner of the province of León in northern Spain. But in Spain to be "in Babia" means to be lost in thought, not quite all there, or even not where you're supposed to be. Leading Spanish writer Julio Llamazares, who was born in the province, puts it thus: "Being in Babia means having your mind in one place and your body in another."

From an article in The Guardian

October, 23th, 2009

Puente del Paso Honroso (Honorable Passage Bridge) across the Órbigo River in Hospital de Órbigo, León (Spain)

1. That gentleman who wants to cross the Paso Honroso must fight with Suero de Quinones or one of his nine companions to break three lances, or leave their weapons as pledge and wade through the river on foot.
2. Warranty is given to the gentlemen who come that they will be provided with suit, arms and a right horse proper to his honor.
3. Participants must provide their name, title , origin and status.
4. Participants will not be able to choose their opponent; only they will know who have faced after breaking three spears.

Rules of the Paso Honroso contest (1434)

Bridge over the Cares River in the Picos de Europa National Park, Leon Province (Spain)

The rivers, of course, reflect the characteristics of the land. Born of the mountain and the snow-field, they come leaping and surging seawards, dancing to their own wild music, as they crush through narrow gorges, by crag and hanging wood, hurrying ever northward towards the Biscayan sea.

Excerpt about the Cantabria
rivers in Wild Spain

Abel Chapman (1893)

Bolín Bridge over the Cares River in Picos de Europa National Park, Leon Province (Spain)

Puso Dios en mis cántabras montañas
Auras de libertad, tocas de nieve,
Y la vena del hierro en sus entrañas.
Tejió del roble de la adusta sierra
Y no del frágil mirto su corona;
Que ni falerna vid ni ático olivo,
Ni siciliana mies ornan sus campos,
Ni allí rebosan las colmadas trojes,
Ni rueda el mosto en el lagar hirviente;

Marcelino Menéndez Pelayo

Bridge over the Jarda brook in the Picos de Europa National Park, León (Spain)

“Who looks upon a river in a meditative hour, and is not reminded of the flux of all things?”

Fragmento de Nature

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Roman Bridge over the Torio River in Vegacervera, León (Spain)

¿Cómo se rompió, de pronto,
el puente que nos unía
al deseo por un lado
y por el otro a la dicha?

¿Y cómo en la mitad del puente
que a pedazos se caía?
tu alma rodó al torrente
y al cielo subió la mía?

Jaime Torres Bodet

Puente del Paso Honroso (Honorable Passage Bridge) across the Órbigo River in Hospital de Órbigo, León (Spain)

...
Allí Naturaleza solemniza
tan rica unión, poblando todo el suelo
de verdor y frescura. Verás cómo
buscan después al Órbigo, que a ellos
corre medroso, huyendo de su puente,
del celebrado puente, que algún día
tembló a los botes de la fuerte lanza
con que su paso el paladín de Asturias
de tantos caballeros catalanes,
franceses y lombardos defendiera

Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos

Bridge over the Torio River in Vegacervera, León (Spain)

San Marcos Bridge over the Bernesga River in León (Spain)

Verdes campos, florida y ancha vega,

donde Bernesga próvido reparte

su onda cristalina; alegres prados,

antiguos y altos chopos, que su orilla

bordáis en torno. ¡ Ah, cuánto gozo, cuánto

a vuestra vista siente el alma mía!

¡Cuán alegres mis ojos se derraman

sobre tanta hermosura!¡Cuán inquietos,

cruzando entre las plantas y las flores,

ya van, ya vienen por el verde soto

que al lejano horizonte dilatado

en su extensión y amenidad se pierde!

Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos

Rebecos Bridge over the Cares River in Picos de Europa National Park, León (Spain)

"Enamorado del parque nacional de Covadonga, en él desearía vivir, morir y reposar eternamente, pero esto último en Ordiales, en el reino encantado de los rebecos y las águilas, allí donde conocí la felicidad de los cielos y de la tierra, allí donde pasé horas de admiración, emoción, ensueño y transporte inolvidables, allí donde adoré a Dios como supremo artífice en sus obras, allí donde la Naturaleza se me apareció verdaderamente como un templo"

Pedro Pidal,

first climber in the Naranjo de Bulnes

Puente de los Rebecos sobre el río Cares cerca de Caín de Valdeón (León)