El Astillero: Wetlands, Trails and Industrial History

In El Astillero, the wetland reclaimed for public use consists of the Marismas Blancas, designated as an ornithological protected area by SEO BirdLife, and the Marismas Negras. El Astillero is also located on the Cantabrian section of the Camino del Norte de la Costa, which is designated as an Asset of Cultural Interest and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Nature and Trails

Parque de La Cantábrica features a free permanent orienteering course with several routes adapted to different age groups and experience levels. The approximately 8 km-long Tren de Ontaneda route follows the track of a former narrow-gauge railway and now serves as a green corridor for walkers and cyclists. The approximately 3 km-long „Por el muelle de Astillero“ route conveys the development of the municipality from the founding of the Real Astillero to its emergence as an industrial location. Astillero has established around 20 routes for walkers and cyclists in total, showcasing local natural and cultural assets. The different route lengths and themes can be compared to help with your own planning.

Culture and History

Sala Bretón is a municipal cultural venue in Astillero for theatre, dance, concerts, cinema and exhibitions. Almacén de las Artes offers courses, workshops and cultural activities in the fields of visual arts, music, theatre, robotics and illustration.

Puente de los Ingleses is an iron structure designed in the 19th century, with a facility for loading and unloading iron from the mines of Obregón; it was built as a railway loading facility for mining, is designated as an Asset of Local Interest and forms part of Cantabria's industrial heritage. After being closed, Puente de los Ingleses was officially reopened to the public in 2017.

The present three-nave church, with Romanesque influences, was built in 1949 after an earlier chapel for the workers of the La Planchada shipyards was demolished due to a lack of space. A building constructed in 1877 originally served as accommodation for people who visited the seaside baths and the waters of „La Fuentuca“. The remains of a former refinery are now located in a public park.

Sports and Events

The La Cantábrica sports complex has outdoor and indoor pools, padel and tennis courts, a climbing wall, squash courts, a gym and saunas. In 2024, the municipality presented the XX Bandera del Real Astillero de Guarnizo; the associated ARC2 and ETE league races were announced for Saturday afternoon in the Ría de Astillero as time trials.

Holiday apartment in El Astillero

When comparing holiday apartments in El Astillero, travel dates, room category and cancellation policies on the offer pages can help structure your choice. You can adjust the weighting of this information according to the desired balance of nature, culture, activity and history.

Other Places

Other places for your own research: Bareyo, Ampuero, Liérganes, Cartes, Suances, Villaverde De Pontones, Piélagos, Ontoria

For the higher-level travel overview: Cantabria.