Capital of the municipality of the same name, this village was declared of national historical-artistic interest in 1978, and houses a dense concentration of classical architecture from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, fruit of the economic boom it experienced as a result of its artillery factory in that period.
The urban centre is located at the foot of two small mounds, named Marimón and Cotillamón (and popularly known as "Las Tetas de Liérganes" for their anthropomorphic resemblance, with 'tetas' being a way of referring the female bosom in Spanish).
Liérganes and its history are linked to the legend of the Fish-Man, which like all legends has elements based both in reality (its protagonist, Francisco de la Vega) and in fiction (its ending). Francisco de la Vega was born in the town in 1660 and, after throwing himself into the river Miera, disappeared into the Cantabrian sea. They say that he was found years later, having lost his mind and the power of speech, in the bay of Cádiz.
Whatever the truth of the story, what is not in doubt is the special beauty of Liérganes and its seaside resort which, surrounded by a magnificent estate with large trees, gives it a characteristic nineteenth-century air.
The old part of Liérganes (El Mercadillo) is a historic-artistic site and includes, in addition to te large stately homes, the Palacio de Rañada or Cuesta-Mercadillo, the church of San Sebastián, the parish church of San Pedro Ad Víncula, the houses of the Setién and Canyon families, the chapels of the Humilladero and the Carmen and the new bridge. Despite the undoubted relevance of this complex, the most important monument of the municipality is the museum-palace of Elsedo, in Pámanes.
We can also highlight, in other localities, the Cross of Rubalcaba or the palace of San Jorge, in Tarriba.
Liérganes cuisine is popular for its exquisite meats and river fish, as well as for its renowned fresh and cream cheeses and its famous pastry tradition based on "sacristanes" and chocolate with churros.
The palace and museum of Elsedo, located in Pámanes, is one of the architectural jewels of the region. Declared a historic-artistic monument, the palace dates from the 18th century and was commissioned by Francisco de Hermosa y Revilla, first count of Torre Hermosa. It comprises several independent sections among which stands out the severe baroque ornamentation of its chapel and an octagonal tower, unique in Cantabria both in design and for its non-defensive purpose.
The palace was acquired by an Austrian couple who dedicated much of their fortune to restoring it. Currently, it is owned by the Santos Díez family of Cantabrian businessmen, and houses a contemporary art museum where sculptures by Eduardo Chillida, Jorge de Oteiza, Pablo Serrano, Miguel Berrocal, Ramón Muriedas and José Clará can be admired In addition, Elsedo brings together an important sample of modern paintings, from the region's most talented artists, such as Pancho Cossío, Gutiérrez Solana, María Blanchard, Casimiro Sainz, Quirós and Raba, and others such as Sunyer, Redondela, Zabaleta…
Tourism in Cantabria