Tudanca is one of the municipalities of Cantabria where you can still live immersed in the traditions of the rural environment.
Sited in the medium-high part of the Valley of the Nansa, where the river is embedded forming a narrow valley surrounded by steep slopes, Tudanca is the most interesting village of the municipality. It was declared a historic-artistic site in 1983, since it is a good example of Baroque core in which intermingle buildings noble and popular.
The main route of access to the town is a mountain road, which should be taken turning off at the highway direction Puentenansa, reaching our destination.
We will see Tudanca, nestled in the foothills of the mountain, and its wonderful architecture called our attention already from the distance. Getting lost among its narrow street,s we will be able to enjoy the wonderful use of stone and masonry in their rural homes and the magnificent wood-working of the great craftsmen
In the highest part of the village, stands the famous “Casona de Tudanca”, whose last inhabitant was the writer and scholar José María de Cossío, who donated it, as a museum, to the Regional Council of Cantabria. In times of Cossío, the house was a remarkable intellectual activity center. Unamuno, Giner de los Ríos, Alberti, Gerardo Diego, were some of its illustrious guests. Converted into a Museum, the Casona de Tudanca is home to a splendid library, with more than 25,000 volumes including manuscripts of Federico García Lorca and Camilo José Cela. Jose Maria Pereda based his book “Peñas Arriba” on the comings and goings of the previous Casona owner, don Francisco de la Cuesta owner.
In the village of Tudanca still exists the ancient custom to exploit the pastures in community, according to the ancient “Prau Concejo”. The day of Saint Augustine the meadow of the Council is divided into lots that are drawn between the neighbors.
Enjoy of a hike up to the Hermitage of Las Nieves, place of celebration on August 5, in which a large number of people move up to the surrounding fields, to enjoy a picnic, in the company of neighbors and friends, to honor the patron saint of the town.