The Cantabrian villages of The Most Beautiful Villages of Spain join forces to promote projects in defense of rural heritage

The seven Cantabrian municipalities that are part of the national network are taking a joint step to preserve their heritage, pool their efforts, and create new opportunities for their residents.

As of today, Cantabria has a new tool to preserve some of its most unique villages.

The seven Cantabrian municipalities that are part of the network of Spain’s Most Beautiful Villages have established the Association of Spain’s Most Beautiful Villages in Cantabria in Santander, a regional organization created to work together to protect rural heritage, foster cooperation among municipalities, and promote new projects.

The new association brings together Los Tojos, along with Bárcena Mayor; Cabuérniga, along with Carmona; Comillas; Liérganes; Camaleño, along with Mogrovejo; Potes; and Santillana del Mar. All of them are part of "Los Pueblos Más Bonitos de España," which has supported and promoted the creation of this new regional structure.

This is not a new tourism brand, but rather a working tool within the national network itself. Its goal is to help Cantabrian municipalities join forces, share needs, and jointly apply for grants, subsidies, and programs that enable the development of projects for the benefit of these towns and their residents.

The challenge is clear: to preserve heritage, promote cultural and sustainable tourism, strengthen village life, and help reduce regional imbalances. In short, to work together so that the beauty of these places is not just an image, but also an opportunity for the future.

The association’s founding ceremony took place in Santander, at the offices of the Government of Cantabria, with the participation of the Regional Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Sports, Luis Martínez Abad, who welcomed this new phase and congratulated the mayors on this step forward.

Cantabria now has seven municipalities among the Most Beautiful Villages of Spain, a presence that the mayor of Potes, Javier Gómez Ruiz, has described as particularly significant, with the hope that new destinations may join in the future.

The new Cantabrian association also marks a milestone for the national network: it is the first regional structure of Los Pueblos Más Bonitos de España and will serve as a model for other regions. Aragón and Castilla y León will be the next steps on this shared journey.

With this step, the Cantabrian towns in the network reinforce their commitment to preserving rural heritage and to a simple yet powerful idea: together, small towns can go further without ceasing to be themselves.