In honor of Spain taking home the World Cup trophy at long last (congratulations, neighbors!), this week’s wallpaper location is in the north of that country.
Sorry for the teeny thumbnail — the original, by tauxu2000, is a huge panorama and very worth a look. Here’s just a piece of that same scene, and a nice wallpaper by itself:
From the same mountain range but a different area:
And finally, my favorite panorama by Mick Stephenson:
As always, click on any of the images to mountainize them.
If you’re guessing the Pyrenees, you’d be wrong. While the Pyrenees are the best known mountains in Spain, they’re by no means the only ones. Far to the west of them, in the Cantabrian Mountains, sit a collection of high peaks called the Picos de Europa (Peaks of Europe). Together they make up a national park featuring some of Spain’s deepest caves, along with those gorgeous massifs. The caves are used as cool storage units for regionally produced blue cheeses, which are high on my list of things to try. (The cheeses, not the caves.)
Since they’re located well off the beaten track for both Spanish and French tourism (and since the Tour de France does not ride through them), the Picos don’t get nearly the attention that the Pyrenees do. All the better for those of us who like our mountains a little less famous.
Oregon Expat 
Thank you. My parents are crazy about this region and, after retirement, they bought a car with a built-in cooler specifically to bring home all the local food found in their frequent trips. Whenever they go there, among other things, they bring cheese (Cabrales).
Yes, the Picos de Europa! Some fabulous textbook Karst topography. One of the regions of Spain to which I’d like to return. One of my favorite towns Oseja de Sajambre sits in a beautiful valley in the midst of one of the craziest bus rides I’ve ever taken – winding narrow roads with barely room for a car, not too mention a bus. Oh I’d love to go back.
I’ve been there 2 times and would definetly return! My favorite thing in Picos de Europa is the walking routes you find everywhere. If you like hiking, that’s the place to go! Specially the “Ruta de Cares”… Oh well, I miss holidays!
(I can only eat (a little piece of) “queso de Cabrales” with a LOT of bread, it’s really strong!)
Magnificent. Thank you. It reminds me of how the glaciers squished all the land near where I live…