The art of liquid gold. Sources of Narcea, Degaña and Ibias

This ecotourism experience takes place at Casa Martín, in the town of Fondos de Vega, Degaña, a municipality within the Fuentes del Narcea Degaña e Ibias Natural Park and close to the Muniellos Forest. The region is known for being home to one of the richest plant and animal communities in Europe.

Description

The experience begins with a contextualization of the local, cultural, socioeconomic, and environmental context in which we find ourselves, and in which traditional beekeeping has, throughout history, played a prominent role in promoting the integrity of the ecosystem and the well-being of the local community.

Honey exhibits a wide range of colors, flavors, and textures, which give it its unique character and depend on the floral variety or type of nectar collected. We will discuss the botanical characterization of our honey.

This experience is a journey into the heart of the beekeeping industry and a stimulating experience for the senses through tasting the products offered by the hive, based on a responsible commitment to the conservation of the natural environment and environmental and cultural awareness.
We will conclude with the participation of attendees in a dramatization of the beekeeping profession.

The experience in detail

Activities

  • Contextualization of the local, cultural, socioeconomic and environmental environment
  • Exhibition of a truebano (beehive made from a tree trunk) characteristic of the area
  • Observation of the different inhabitants of the hive (queen, drones and workers), characteristics, organization, behavior and structure of each of them within the hive
  • Tasting of honey and other derivatives such as honey cookies, honey jams and km 0 fruits

Programme

Touchdown
In a first look at this ancient craft, we will discuss the importance of cortines (a circular structure with high walls, typical of bear-producing areas) and exhibit a truebano (a beehive made from a tree trunk) characteristic of the area.
Comment
Using a glass observation hive, we will observe the different inhabitants of the hive (queen, drones, and workers), the characteristics, organization, behavior, and structure of each of them within the hive, as well as the importance of the bee in the environment through the pollination process, promoting biodiversity and ensuring nutritious food.
The products
Finally, visitors will be able to explore the various products of the hive through their senses: honey, wax, pollen, and propolis. Through a tasting, they will be able to "feel, smell, and taste" these products and other derivatives, such as honey biscuits or jams with locally sourced honey and fruit.

Included services

Beekeeping activity

Ecotourism Commitment

Promotion and respect for cultural and environmental awareness

Sustainable tourism

Dissemination of traditional beekeeping in southwestern Asturias.
Raising awareness about the importance of bees in nature and the environment through the pollination process, promoting their care and protection.
To bring the basic traditional techniques of this ancient craft closer to the generations.
Promote the dissemination of ethnographic elements of the local environment.

ECOTOURIST RESERVE

Natural spaces

These are the natural spaces where this experience, The Art of Liquid Gold, takes place: Fuentes del Narcea, Degaña, and Ibias.

Organizing company/ies