Thermal history, gorge scenery and Gothic architecture give La Hermida a variety of points of interest. When choosing a hotel in La Hermida, it is worth deciding what you are most interested in first: would you most like to learn about the development of the thermal tradition, the scale of the Desfiladero, or the surviving parts of the Ermita de San Pelayo?
The scale of the Desfiladero de La Hermida
The Desfiladero de La Hermida is a river gorge carved by the Deva. It runs through hard Palaeozoic rocks. The corridor is bounded by limestone walls up to 1,000 metres high; in places, it narrows to around 100 metres. Height and width describe two different aspects of this landscape: the walls give it vertical scale, while the narrow sections reveal the corridor’s constricted form.
There is a viewpoint and signage at the Desfiladero. Another scenic viewpoint is located in the gorge by the Deva River. If you include these places in your plans, the viewpoint and signs provide practical orientation for taking in the landscape. Check local conditions before visiting.
Thermal tradition, from the springs to the Cueva Termal
The three medicinal mineral springs at Balneario La Hermida were already being used therapeutically in the mid-17th century. A later milestone came in 1880, when the classic thermal tradition was firmly established by the construction of the Gran Hotel, a church and new thermal galleries. These two dates offer a glimpse into the historic development of the spa town without implying that its history was uninterrupted.
The properties of the water are also specifically described: the medicinal mineral water at the Balneario emerges naturally from three springs at a temperature of 60°C. This description adds a characteristic of the water itself to the historical perspective. Together, these details offer different points of interest for travellers curious about the history of spa towns or their natural springs.
The Cueva Termal is close to Balneario La Hermida, behind the main building. It opened in November 2021. The surrounding area has several outdoor warm-water pools at 38°C. Alongside the history of the springs, the cave and outdoor areas are distinct aspects of the thermal tradition; the temperature applies to the outdoor areas.
Gothic traces in the town centre
The Ermita de San Pelayo is a Gothic chapel in the centre of La Hermida. Remains of the former chapel have survived. Its floor plan is preserved, except for the north wall of the nave. This makes it possible to consider the surviving form of the building separately from its precise state of preservation, rather than classifying the chapel solely by its period.
A pointed triumphal arch indicates a Gothic origin. For those interested in architecture, this feature offers a concrete point of reference alongside the preserved floor plan: the floor plan describes the surviving form, while the arch provides an architectural clue to the building’s period. These two details make the chapel a subject in its own right, even if you are more interested in architectural history than in the thermal tradition.
A route with a measurable elevation gain
The Vía Ferrata La Hermida is about 700 metres long and has an elevation difference of more than 300 metres. These figures describe two different measures of the same route: its length and its elevation gain. If you are weighing up an activity alongside your interest in the landscape or architecture, you can consider these measurements separately. This lets you assess the route using specific figures without inferring its elevation profile from its length alone.
When looking for a hotel, you can weigh your travel interests against one another: thermal history, gorge scenery, Gothic architecture or the Vía Ferrata. This can help you tailor your search to what interests you most in La Hermida.
For the wider travel overview: Peñarrubia.
