Cheeses of Cabrales
A valley in the Picos de Europa where a strong blue cheese is aged in natural limestone caves.
Made, aged and sold here
Best time: June to September; the cheese fair is in late August.
Cabrales is a municipality in the eastern Asturias, in the steep limestone mountains of the Picos de Europa. Its main village is Arenas de Cabrales. Its cheese, also called Cabrales, is a powerful blue made from raw cow's milk or a mix with goat and sheep, and it ripens in natural caves where cold, damp air lets blue mould spread through the paste without any piercing.
Cabrales cheese
Cabrales is made by small family producers. The curd is drained, salted and dried for a time before it is carried up to caves in the mountains, where it ripens for two to five months. The cave's humidity and mould turn it blue-green from the outside in. It is strong, spicy and creamy, and is eaten with bread and cider.
Caves and mountains
A cheese cave in Arenas de Cabrales is open to visitors and shows how the cheese is aged. Each August, the village holds a cheese competition and fair. From nearby Poncebos, a funicular and a path lead to Bulnes, a mountain village without road access, and the Cares gorge trail begins here.
A trail idea for Cabrales
- Cheese cave in Arenas See how Cabrales ripens in a natural cave.
- Cares gorge Walk the famous path cut into the gorge walls.
- Bulnes A mountain village reached by funicular or on foot.
- A cider house Eat Cabrales with poured Asturian cider.
Written by the EveryCheese desk with AI assistance. Background: "Cabrales" on Wikipedia. Opening hours, markets, caves and tours change; check locally before travelling. If something is wrong, tell us.
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