The most magical Spanish forests: 5 must-see natural gems
Since the beginning of time, many legends and mythological creatures have sheltered in luxuriant forests and their hidden caves, rivers and fog. In Spain, a land of diverse cultures and myths, there are many enchanted forests whose vegetation crawls on ancient ruins and old creatures keep treasures safe from those who aren’t careful enough to discover them. Let’s dive into these lands in silence to avoid disturbing the spirits that linger in their timeless, sombre landscapes.
Map of Spain's enchanted forests
The mysterious Devesa da Rogueira
Obviously, the starting point through this route of Spain’s enchanted forests had to be in Galicia, where mythological creatures and magical beings still live in holes in the trees. The Devesa da Rogueira sits in southern Lugo, in the Sierra do Courel, in the shadows of the quiet Formigueiros peak.
If you dive into this forest, you’ll meet a vibrant natural richness that manifests itself in a plant diversity that includes more than 800 species. Birches, hollies, hazels, yews… A picture painted by infinite trees of impossible colours where shadows and lights merge into one.
But the charm of the Devesa da Rogueira lies beyond its great natural value. A route through this landscape will take you to mysterious buildings that evoke fantasy tales. Black slate houses, pallozas, stone structures permeated by moss, Celtic castros... Prehistoric remains await in its caves and petroglyphs, echoes from a past that still tinkle when the wind caresses the branches. Of course, this sombre forest in Galicia is surrounded by legends of enchanted "mouras" and "trasgos" or gnomes.
The forest of Beyu Pen, a journey to the centre of Asturias
A mythological route that crosses a singular forest awaits between the Asturian localities of Santillán and Pen, along the crystal-clear Beyu stream. This itinerary invites to walk the green path and enjoy the fresh atmosphere of a landscape guided by the water. It is also perfect to dive into Asturias’ folklore, where "bruxas" (witches) and "busgosus" (similar to Cernunnos) live in peace.
These and many other magical creatures live in the enchanted forest of Beyu Pen, where both nature and humans have created shapes that remind of these legendary characters. Leveraging the shape of stones and trees to picture the faces of Asturias’ mythical creatures, this path of surprising low difficulty is particularly enjoyed by the youngest members of the family.
The Faedo de Ciñera, among legends and witches
The province of León is home to a forest that wears the brightest shades of red in the autumn. This is Faedo de Ciñera, a corner of bushy vegetation where moss, leaves and whispering streams compose a setting that has unleashed dozens of legends.
For instance, it is believed that a witch called Haeda lived in this beech forest. She had received her supernatural powers from the Devil under one condition: she must use them for evil purposes.
But the sorceress also used her abilities to set fire to the mountains to warm and feed a family that suffered from the cruel winter. Haeda died in the Faedo, but legend has it that her spirit still lives in this forest, one of the most special charming forests in Spain.
Lluc, Mallorca’s sacred forest
To discover this mystical corner, you will have to head to northern Mallorca. It sits in the Sierra de Tramontana, which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2011.
Its magical and spiritual character has manifested in many different ways since remote times. For instance, the prehistoric Talaiotic culture found its home in the caves of the Cometa dels Morts, a mysterious spot where people were buried.
The Romans were also haunted by Lluc’s charms, in particular the abundance of evergreen oaks, tress that have a supernatural connotation in the Classical World. For this reason, many scholars insist that the name comes from the Latin word lucus, which means "sacred forest".
With the expansion of Christianity, many legends emerged in the area, such as the legend of the Mare de Déu. Nowadays, the Monastery of Santa María in Lluc is an important pilgrimage site where spirituality connects with the landscape and its ancient traditions.
The magic of the Dehesa del Camarate
In the heart of the Sierra Nevada Natural Park lies a true natural treasure, a mixed forest foreign to human intervention and crowned by the massive Andalusian mountains. It is the perfect spot to admire the autumnal red and golden spectacle, thanks to its rich variety of plant species composed of maples, wild cherries, ashes and oaks. A show to see at least once in life.
It is known as an enchanted forest because of a local legend that involves a father and his son, who walked through the Dehesa del Camarate. The boy got lost and never came back. Legend has it that his screams can be heard in the foggiest days and his soul is condemned to wander among the shadows of the trees forever. A terrifying story that concludes this list of the best enchanted forests in Spain.
You can also read this article in Spanish here.
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