Portal de Turismo de Castilla y León

We welcome you to the Palencia Mountains Nature Park House, in the province of Palencia.

As in the rest of the Nature Park houses spread throughout the Castilla Leon region, it is the recommended gateway to these natural areas. At this interpretation centre, the educators will inform you about the Nature Park and help you plan your visit.

Here, information on emblematic species and habitats is provided to facilitate the identification and highlight the cultural and natural heritage of these places, in a respectful manner, while promoting the conservation and appreciation of biodiversity and cultural heritage.

This house is located in the town of Cervera de Pisuerga, in the north of Palencia.

Cervera de Pisuerga, located in the Palencia Mountains, rises 1000 to 1200 metres above sea level, has the largest municipal area in the province, covering 325 square kilometres. In the heart of the Palencia Mountains Nature Park, we find an area of exceptional natural and cultural values, crossed by the Carrión and Pisuerga Rivers. This strategic enclave has been crucial in the town's historical, artistic, and socio-economic development.

The Palencia Mountains are home to evidence of human presence since prehistoric times. After resisting the Romans, the region is notable for important events, such as the Reconquest. With town records dating back to 818, Cervera de Pisuerga is the oldest town in Palencia. In the 19th century, the region experienced industrial development with the discovery of coal and the construction of the "El Hullero" railway.

Enter the building.

Go through the second door and you will reach the lobby. Beyond this second door is the entrance hall of the house. On the left side, there is a bear-shaped shelf with brochures about the park, cut logs, books, pine cones, and other natural elements of the Nature Park.

On the wall, there is a trunk with its base on the riverbed made out of plants and boulders. On the hall’s floor, two elongated openings cross between the walls, with glass where you can observe the course of the river from the mill.

In the right-hand corner, between the windows, you’ll find the green shop, where you can buy typical local products or a souvenir of your visit.

At the end of these shelves is the reception desk, decorated with nests, pine cones, and a stone with a fossil. Behind the counter, there is a round table with a map of the nature park and, next to it, another table with park brochures. To the left of this corridor is a sculpture of a bear with its front paws resting on a boulder.

Following the same wall, are the toilets and the lift.

On the front wall, there are two staff doors, while on the next wall, to the right, there is access to the Bear Area and a staircase leading to the upper floor.

The first stop of this audio guide is just in front of the model of the park, to the right of the entrance.

Stand in front of the model of the park.

The Palencia Mountains Nature Park became a protected area in 2000. It covers almost 80,000 hectares in the north of Palencia. Its original name was "Carriona Fountains and Cobre Fountain - Palencia Mountains Nature Park," but in 2022 it was renamed "Palencia Mountains Nature Park."

The Nature Park, crossed by two large rivers, has two distinct valleys. In the northwest, the Carrión River flows from the Carriona Fountains glacial lake at an altitude of 2200 metres. This Palencian river runs through a valley with abrupt relief, high peaks, and deep glacial valleys. The predominant vegetation includes scrubland, Pyrenean broom, gorse, and alpine grass. The Carrión flows through the Pineda glacial valley, around the Curavacas massif and is dammed in the Camporredondo and Compuerto reservoirs, 179 kilometres down the river's course, joining the Pisuerga at the south of Palencia's capital.

In the north-eastern region of the Park is the Cobre Fountain cave, where the Pisuerga River emerges after travelling over 8 kilometres underground from the Sel de la Fuente sinkhole. The Pisuerga Valley has a gentler relief and is notably more forested, with deciduous Atlantic forests such as oak, beech, and birch groves.

In the vicinity of this area is the Tres Mares Peak, an interesting peak with three slopes, each of which gives rise to a river that flows into a different sea. The Pisuerga, a tributary of the Duero that flows into the Atlantic, has its source in Palencia. To the east is the Híjar River, a tributary of the Ebro that flows into the Mediterranean. To the north is the Nansa River, which flows into the Cantabrian Sea.

The Palencia Mountains Nature Park covers two bio-geographical regions: the Eurosiberian and the Mediterranean. Three forest formations considered to be relics stand out: the Peña Lampa juniper forest, the Carrón River Velilla pine forest, and the Tosande European yew forest.

As for the fauna, the Cantabrian brown bear stands out as the Park's emblem, which is the star of the centre's visit.

Now, head down the corridor at the end of the reception desk and take the stairs or lift up to the first floor.

Once you reach the second floor, to the left you will find the library, where temporary exhibitions are held, the offices, and the audio-visual room.

Enter the audio-visual room through the last door.

The audio-visual presentation lasts about 10 minutes and takes a tour of the main natural highlights of the Nature Park.

On the room’s ceiling, above your head, hover models of an eagle and a crow in flight.

The eagle and the crow are birds with unique characteristics. Both are known for their majestic flight and precise hunting. The crow displays a black plumage that contributes to the richness of the natural and cultural world.

Now, go down to the first floor and enter the "Bear Area."

The brown bear is a bear species widely distributed throughout the world, with notable differences between its subspecies. There are eight bear species, including the Polar Bear, American Black Bear, Asian Black Bear, Giant Panda, Sloth Bear, Sun Bear, Spectacled Bear, and Brown Bear.

The Kodiak bear is the world's largest bear, along with the polar bear. This specimen can reach a height of three metres when standing upright and weighs 700 kilos. It inhabits the coasts of southern Alaska and adjacent islands, such as Kodiak Island. There are about 3500 specimens. On the other hand, the Grizzly bear lives in the North American highlands. It can reach a height of 2.5 metres and 600 kilos.

The Himalayan brown bear is native to the foothills of the Himalayas and Karakorum. Some say the legend of the Yeti was born from this bear.

The Syrian brown bear is the smallest brown bear subspecies. It occupies a vast area of West Asia.

Finally, the focus of the House's visit: the European brown bear.

The European Brown Bear is a subspecies native to Europe, from the Iberian Peninsula to Scandinavia and Russia. Within Europe, there are two different breeds: the Cantabrian brown bear and the Carpathian bear, which lives in Romania, Slovakia, Poland, and Ukraine and whose adult males can weigh up to 400 kg.

Although the European Brown Bear has become extinct in most of Europe, it still survives in the Cantabrian Mountain Range. The Cantabrian Mountain Range, where the Palencia Mountains Nature Park is located, stretches in a west-east direction for about 480 kilometres and has an average width of approximately 100 km in a north-south direction.

The Cantabrian Mountain Range serves as the last refuge for Cantabrian brown bears, specifically, in the autonomous communities of Asturias, Castilla y León, Cantabria, and a small area of Galicia. Although the bear population declined until the end of the 20th century, a recovery process began in the mid-1990s and continues today.

The Cantabrian bear population has been divided into two subpopulations, western and eastern, but genomic studies indicate a growing connection between them.

The western subpopulation ranges from the Ancares in Lugo and León to the central area of the mountain range between León and Asturias, with approximately 250 bears, according to a 2021 census. On the other hand, the eastern subpopulation is distributed throughout the Palencia Mountains, the eastern mountains of León and the Cantabrian mountains of Campoo de Suso, Polaciones, and Liébana, with presence in eastern Asturias. According to the same census, a population of about 120 bears was estimated in this area.

The Palencia Mountains Nature Park, a protected area that is home to one of the most outstanding contrasts of biodiversity in Europe, is also part of its habitat. With an extension of over 78,000 hectares, this nature park is located in the northern part of the province of Palencia. This mountainous terrain is part of the Cantabrian Mountain Range and borders the plateau, which gives it significant biodiversity as it is located in a transition area between the Mediterranean and Atlantic climates.

The configuration of this natural area is marked by the basins of the Carrión and Pisuerga Rivers. In the former, steep slopes with sparse vegetation predominate, while in the latter, the wooded areas are more extensive and are located on a less pronounced relief.

It is a rural region with special natural values that must be preserved through sustainable development models. Among the most relevant aspects, the following can be highlighted:

Its status as an outstanding example of a high mountain landscape of great value in terms of wildlife, flora, and history.

The presence of one of the northernmost masses of junipers in Europe, a pine forest of natural origin and extensive areas of yew groves, together with endemic species typical of the Cantabrian Mountain Range such as echium cantabricum.

Its role as a refuge for an emblematic and endangered species: the brown bear. In fact, the Palencia Mountains constitute the main breeding centre of the eastern population of Cantabrian brown bears.

The Palencia Mountains Nature Park forms part of the Network of Natural Spaces of Castilla y León, which is integrated in EU’s Natura 2000 protected areas network, the largest environmental protection area in the world.

Natura 2000 is a European ecological network created in 1992 to preserve biodiversity. The network includes Sites of Community Importance (SCI) and Special Protection Areas for Birds (ZEPA). It aims to ensure the long-term survival of species and habitats in Europe, contributing to halting biodiversity loss and becoming the main instrument for nature conservation in the European Union.

The Natura 2000 network covers 28 European countries, with a total of 26,000 protected sites, equivalent to one fifth of the EU’s surface area.

In Spain, the Natura 2000 Network protects over 500,000 square kilometres, including 1,461 SCIs and 643 ZEPAs, totalling 1,858 Protected Spaces. Spain is the European country that contributes the most surface area to the network.

In Castilla y León, the Natura Network is made up of 70 ZEPAs and 120 SCIs. As a result, it occupies some 2,400,000 hectares, which is 26% of Castilla y León’s territory, making it the second in protected areas in Spain.

The Palencia Mountains Nature Park has been designated as a ZEPA because it is home to species of great interest, such as the Egyptian vulture, the grey partridge, the middle-spotted woodpecker, the European honey buzzard and the short-toed snake eagle. It has also been declared a SCI due to the high value of its habitats.

This Bear Area represents an ancestral space of coexistence between humans and bears, where this species has managed to survive the threat of extinction that has affected other European regions. Habitat degradation, poaching, and population fragmentation have been the main causes that have brought the brown bear to the brink of extinction in large areas of Europe and the Iberian Peninsula.

Living in the Bear Area is a privilege, but it is crucial to ensure that the coexistence between humans and animals is harmonious. To achieve this, actions such as compensation for damage caused by bears, subsidising electric herders to protect beehives, and raising public awareness of the benefits and implications of living in bear territory are being carried out.

Press the button, cross the curtain and enter the room.

The screen shows images of the Palencia Mountains, focusing on the bear, highlighting the traces and signs that can be found, showing the presence of the brown bear. Excrement, marks, and footprints are shown as evidence of their passage.

At the end of this part of the video, the narration invites us to imagine the experience of watching the bear without being seen. The projection screen disappears and a scene is illuminated in which a robotic bear moves while eating berries.

At the end of this presentation, leave the room through the curtain opposite the entrance, located on the wall in front of the entrance.

You will now reach a corridor with wooden walls.

Enter the new room, to the left of this panel.

On the left wall of this room, a poster points out that the brown bear that lives in the Cantabrian Mountain Range belongs to the European subspecies and is slightly smaller than its relatives living in different European regions. Despite this, its size is considerable, being the real giant of these latitudes.

Below is a map of Europe showing the locations of the European brown bear. On the floor, next to the wall, there are three bear profiles: the male, in white; the female, in black; and a cub with an orange-coloured coat.

On the opposite wall, to the right of the entrance, there are three other bear profiles of different sizes: the Alaskan brown bear, in black, the largest of the three; in front of it, the Carpathian bear, in orange; finally, in front of both, the profile of the Cantabrian bear, considerably smaller than the previous ones and depicted in white.

The scientific name of the European brown bear is "Ursus arctos arctos." It measures 1.5 to 2 metres from muzzle to base of tail, with a height of up to 1 metre.

These bears vary greatly in weight and size between the different subspecies. Those of the Cantabrian Mountain Range are considered to be among the smallest.

When you leave the room, continue down the corridor and go to the right.

You will now come up to a scale and a sign. On the wall to the left, there is a silhouette of a weighing scale with the indicator showing 250 kilos and the figure of a bear. An adult male weighs 150-250 kg, an adult female 80-120 kg, a yearling bear cub about 25 kg, and a new-born bear weighs 350 grams.

In front of the silhouettes of the scale and the bear, there is a panel with bear images. Each portrait is unique, and the disparity in terms of colours, corpulence and even the way they present themselves can be quite remarkable.

Pass behind this panel.

Step into the new room, where the wooden walls display photographs of bears. Here, the variability of colours stands out, from very dark brown, almost black, to light cream, passing through various shades of grey.

Colour perception can change significantly depending on conditions and whether the coat is wet or dry. We can observe a frequently repeated colour pattern: dark legs, yellowish-brown face, greyish flanks, and dark-brown hindquarters. The young often show neck markings or even a light-coloured collar, which tends to fade with age.

A brown bear's diet varies considerably throughout the year, both in quantity and nutritional content, and this is reflected in considerable fluctuations in weight throughout the year.

The brown bear has poor eyesight, in contrast to its acute sense of hearing and excellent sense of smell. It tends to remain hidden for much of the day and is most active in the twilight hours and at dawn.

In case it needs to confirm the information provided by its senses, it has the ability to briefly stand upright on its hind legs, as it is a plantigrade. It can also reach speeds of up to 60 km/h over short distances, proving to be a good swimmer and a good climber.

On the next wall, which is perpendicular to the one on the right, there is a screen playing a continuous documentary on the Cantabrian bear without sound.

Brown bears, by nature, tend to be solitary, with the exception of females when they are caring for their cubs.

During the rutting season, adult males may even kill other bears’ cubs to induce the mothers’ receptivity to copulation, thus ensuring the prevalence of their genetic line. However, no family units are formed beyond the rearing period, which lasts about a year and a half.

Continue to the next sign.

This room has a wall dedicated to bear sexuality.

Bears are promiscuous animals, as females mate with several males to induce the belief that future offspring belong to each of them, thus protecting their cubs from infanticide. The pair bonding lasts only a few days and males do not participate in breeding. The rutting period occurs in spring and early summer.

Bear births take place in January, inside the bear den. The largest litters have three cubs. They remain with their mother for about 17 months, which means that, at best, females give birth approximately every 2 years.

Return to the room with the scale and go out to the corridor. Continue to the left until you reach a new room.

In the centre of the room, several crates are grouped next to a post with a tree trunk and a wire fence between both posts. The boxes contain traces of bears, while the posts, tree, and wire fence show claw marks and tufts of fur, indicating the presence of these animals in the environment.

The bear tracks, marked by their plantigrade nature, show five toes and nails, with the front prints facing inwards.

The bears' large and easily identifiable droppings provide valuable information on their diet, which varies seasonally. These animals, known as "repentant carnivores," base their diet on vegetation, fruits, and animal matter, showing different preferences in each season. A feeding chart shows that in spring they mostly eat green plants and foods of animal origin; in summer, fleshy fruits and green plants; and in autumn, nuts and foods of animal origin.

During the spring rutting season, male bears mark tree trunks with bites and scratches to communicate their presence and intentions to other specimens. Bears and cubs also leave markings throughout the year, and the presence of broken branches indicates that a bear has climbed trees, especially oaks, and cherry trees, to feed.

They rub themselves to impregnate their scent on the fences of meadows and crops, and on trees, the bears leave their characteristic fur, which is slightly wavy and soft to the touch. These tufts of hair, in addition to confirming the presence of the animal, are used in genetic studies to extract DNA from its roots. Signs of feeding, such as overturned stones, scavenged anthills or destroyed hives, also reveal their presence.

Now, exit the room, walking along the right wall to the entrance.

You will now come to a room with a sign that reads: "Visiting the Bear Area."

The left side of the poster shows the silhouette of a man, while the right side shows the silhouette of a bear.

The Palencia Mountains Nature Park offers an extensive network of trails to enjoy its main attractions.

In the event of an encounter with bears, it is important to remember that, in general, they are not aggressive due to centuries of coexistence with humans and have learned to avoid them. However, precautions should be taken, especially if the bear is wounded, is a female with cubs, has been harassed by dogs, or is in its den.

Although the risk of attack is minimal, the increasing bear population and human activity on trails and mountains also increase the likelihood of encounters. In case of close encounters, it is advisable not to run, shout, or threaten the bear, as these actions could trigger an aggressive response.

In situations where the bear may feel threatened, it is advisable to follow certain guidelines:

When faced with a deterrent charge, remain calm and avoid aggressive gestures to make the animal go away.

If the bear charges aggressively, it may stop before it reaches our position and move away immediately.

Never come between a bear and her cubs.

In the case of bears on the road, it is advisable to switch on the hazard lights, stop or slow down to allow the bear to leave the road, avoiding pursuit at all times.

In addition, general recommendations are given, such as keeping dogs on a lead, avoiding approaching carrion that bears may be eating, not leaving rubbish or food behind, not following bear tracks, and avoiding going into dense vegetation and rocky areas.

Advance now to the interactive item in the centre of the room.

In this interactive segment of the Palencia Mountains Nature Park, you can explore various trails, including signposted routes, scenic roads, and viewpoints. On the hexagonal table, several screens show the options. A poster highlights the park's biodiversity, inviting you to discover its wonders, such as river sources, waterfalls, glacial lakes, and unique forests. In addition, three roads will take you to exceptional landscapes, such as the Cervera de Pisuerga to Potes road and the Reservoirs Route. The viewpoints include Alba de los Cardaños, Alto de la Varga, Alto de las Matas, El Campo, Piedrasluengas, and Perapertú.

Exit this room through the curtain at the back.

Exit to the lobby, where you will find the staircase and lift in front of this exit curtain. Go down to the ground floor.

Down and to the left, pass through another black slat curtain near the staircase to enter an enclosed space. Inside, there is a display case exhibiting a stuffed Cantabrian brown bear. This specimen, a male named Pintojo, died in June 2022, weighing 217 kilos, with an estimated age of between ten and 15 years, considered middle-aged for bears in the wild, which usually live around twenty-five years.

A screen tells this bear's story: he fought a female bear near Cervera, on Escrita Peak. The female, who had cubs, tried to defend them from the male's attacks, which are common in these situations. During the fight on some exposed rocks, they stumbled and fell from a height of thirty metres. Although the male got up and walked away, he was found lifeless the next day. Surprisingly, the female managed to climb up the rocks and reunite with one of her cubs, but months later, after a monitoring effort by a rescue operation, they found that the female did not survive the fall either.

To the right of the curtain, in the corner of this wall and the next, there is an urn on a pedestal containing the skeletal remains of a Cantabrian brown bear that were found nearby. It is inferred that it was a middle-aged specimen that may have been submerged for about five years.

Below, between the screen and the urn, are panels detailing a collective effort to conserve the brown bear.

This effort addresses conflict prevention, including damage and bear interactions with the environment and people, as well as the management of problem bears. In addition, aspects such as the determination of the causes of mortality, coordination, public information, and participation, habitat management and conservation, and finally, the protection and monitoring of the species are addressed.

In the Cantabrian Mountain Range, conflicts between humans and bears are centred on attacks on beehives. In the Palencia Mountains, there are approximately 50 attacks per year, which are compensated by the Administration. Environmental agents advise beekeepers and provide electric herders.

Coexistence is key in the Cantabrian Mountain Range. Bear-human encounters are recorded and analysed, and deterrents are applied in populated areas to avoid security problems.

The increase in the number of bears has led to an increase in the number of injured bears. The Regional Government uses special trailers to transport injured bears to Recovery Centres.

Similarly, when a dead bear is found, a protocol is activated that analyses the site in detail and performs a necropsy to obtain information on sex, age, time of death, diseases, and injuries.

The Castilla y León Regional Government collaborates closely with other regions through the Brown Bear Working Group in the Cantabrian Mountain Range, coordinating the species’ conservation.

Initiatives such as the Park House, the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism, LIFE projects, media campaigns, and educational programmes promote the information and participation of the population, with volunteering activities.

The Park's trails and facilities are designed with the needs and tranquillity of the bears in mind. Road regulation, foot-only access, and restoration works improve connectivity between bear areas.

The brown bear, a species in danger of extinction, has legal instruments such as the Recovery Plan and protection figures. All activities in their habitat are analysed to establish compatible conditions.

The Regional Government's field staff, SEPRONA, and NGOs monitor the bear, focusing on illegal activities and suspending collective hunts in bear areas in the presence of bears.

Field staff, with support from the Brown Bear Foundation, monitor bear populations to learn on their evolution, the number of bears with cubs, and abundance indices, using genetic censuses to analyse kinship and diversity.

Another screen below shows a recent genetic study on the brown bear in the Cantabrian Mountain Range. This stuffed male, which has been called Pintojo because of a spot on its back, was also made. The study that collects the results of genetic cross-breeding between the Western and Eastern populations.

On the wall next to the screen, there are panels detailing the radio-tagging programme, currently underway in the mountain range. This programme involves capturing and tagging some bears with GPS collars to track their movements, habitat, possible causes of mortality and promote coexistence with humans. The Bear Area is the result of the collaboration between the Castilla y León Regional Government, other administrations, NGOs, and experts, with the aim of conserving the species. After a 30-year effort, the bear population in the Cantabrian Mountain Range has tripled.

Leave this room.

With this audio track, the visit to the Palencia Mountains Nature Park House, where the main star is the Cantabrian brown bear, comes to an end.

If you would like more details, you are welcome to come to the reception desk or speak to any of the instructors at the Park House.

Thank you for your visit.