Ecomuseo Saja-Nansa

Ecomuseo Saja-Nansa in Puente Pumar is the starting point for exploring one of the best-preserved natural and cultural corners of Cantabria.

What exactly is the Ecomuseo Saja-Nansa?

It is not a conventional museum with objects displayed behind glass. The Ecomuseo Saja-Nansa covers close to a thousand square kilometers, stretching from the coast inland to the Saja and Nansa valleys. The concept behind the project is that the real "exhibit" is the territory itself: its villages, its people, their customs, and the landscape that sustains them. The ecomuseum was created in 1993 under a European rural development program (PRODER), which aimed to link heritage protection with tourism and the local economy.

Where is the visitor reception center located?

The ecomuseum's information and reception point sits in Puente Pumar, a village within the municipality of Polaciones, inside a historic former rectory building (Antigua Casa Rectoral de Puente Pumar). The building stands directly behind the parish church and, together with the neighboring Casas de los Coroneles, forms a coherent architectural ensemble in the village center.

What does the old rectory building look like?

It is an 18th-century stone manor house (casona) built in ashlar masonry. The ground floor opens through a triple round-arched arcade, and a molded cornice separates the lower and upper levels. Fluted pilasters mark the corners and central section of the facade as the main decorative feature. Beyond housing the ecomuseum's reception center, the building also serves as the headquarters for the Fundación Botín's "Patrimonio y Territorio" (Heritage and Territory) program, dedicated to protecting the region's cultural and natural assets.

What can visitors expect to see across the Saja-Nansa region?

The territory covered by the ecomuseum is remarkably varied: sandy beaches and cliffs along the coast, mountain valleys with wide-open meadows, native deciduous forests, and striking geological formations further inland. Among the region's best-known natural attractions is the Cueva del Soplao, a cave recognized worldwide for the quantity and quality of its rock formations, including rare eccentric speleothems. The Ecomuseo Saja-Nansa functions as the entry point that helps travelers make sense of this large, open-air territory — its history, nature, and living traditions.

Who is this destination suited for?

The Ecomuseo Saja-Nansa works well for anyone planning a longer stay in western Cantabria who wants context before heading further into the Saja and Nansa valleys, whether on foot or by car. It is also a natural reference point for visitors interested in the region's rural architecture, offering a close look at a centuries-old stone building before continuing deeper into the valley.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is an ecomuseum different from a regular museum? The Ecomuseo Saja-Nansa has no traditional collection displayed in closed rooms. Its "exhibit" is the entire region — villages, residents, landscape, and way of life — while the center in Puente Pumar acts as an information point that helps visitors understand this broader territory.

Where exactly is the reception center located? In Puente Pumar, within the municipality of Polaciones, inside the former parish rectory building standing behind the church, next to the Casas de los Coroneles ensemble.

When was the Ecomuseo Saja-Nansa established? The project was launched in 1993 under a European rural development program known as PRODER.

What is the region's most notable natural attraction? The Cueva del Soplao, a cave known worldwide for the number and quality of its geological formations, including its eccentric speleothems.