Lena, Asturias: municipality guide
Lena is a municipality in central Asturias, on the road to the plateau: the Puerto de Pajares (1,378 m) is its natural pass into León. Its capital is Pola de Lena. With 10,382 inhabitants and 315.51 km², it combines UNESCO-listed pre-Romanesque art, high mountains and a historic pilgrimage route.
What to see in Lena
The municipality opens southwards to the Puerto de Pajares, which marks the border with the province of León. To the south also rises the Ubiña massif, within the Las Ubiñas-La Mesa natural park, and the Huerna valley, crossed by the Camín Real del Huerna, runs through the parish of Xomezana. The capital, Pola de Lena — the Town Hall also calls it La Pola de Lena — concentrates most of the population.
The heritage jewel is the 9th-century pre-Romanesque church of Santa Cristina de Lena, on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. The town also features the birthplace of Vital Aza (18th century, listed BIC), the church of San Martín, the 1945 town hall in regionalist style and the 19th-century railway station. In winter, the Valgrande-Pajares ski resort attracts snow lovers.
The municipality borders the province of León to the south: Villamanín, San Emiliano and Sena de Luna are its neighbours in Castilla y León, with whom it shares the historic Puerto de Pajares pass between the plateau and Asturias.
Getting there
The historic Oviedo–León axis via the Puerto de Pajares (N-630) crosses the municipality. Pola de Lena station has Cercanías (C-1 line) and Media and Larga Distancia services.
Festivals and gastronomy
The main events are La Flor, the Monday after Easter Monday; L’Antroxu, Shrove Tuesday; the pilgrimage of Santa Cristina, on the last Sunday of July, with an outdoor mass and the traditional puja del ramo; and Les Feries, in the week of 12 October, feast of Our Lady of the Pillar, with the festivals of Nuestra Señora del Rosario (the fiesta’l Rosariu). In addition, Pola de Lena holds a weekly market on Saturdays in the Plaza de Alfonso X. At the table, typical Asturian dishes: fabada, pote, cured meats and cheeses.
Municipality facts
Coat of arms: Manuelfb55 (CC BY-SA 3.0 + CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Capital: Pola de Lena
- Population: 10,382 inhabitants (INE 2025)
- Area: 315.51 km²
- Zone: Centro
- Demonym: lenense
- Town Hall: C/ Vital Aza, 20, 33630 La Pola de Lena. Tel. +34 985 49 04 17
Neighbouring municipalities
Useful links
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See it on the interactive map: The 78 municipalities of Asturias
