Reserva del Bisonte Europeo Bison Bonasus

In San Cebrián de Mudá, in the Montaña Palentina, a 20-hectare plot of oak wood and meadows houses European bison in semi-liberty, a species of which in 1927 not a single free specimen remained in the world. The reserve's website is in the name of the Asociación para el Desarrollo Local Sierra Corisa, based on the Plaza del Ayuntamiento in the village, and forms part of the Mundominer Leisure Park. The project aims to recover the species and create jobs in rural areas; the reserve itself insists it is not a zoo: visitors have the chance to see the animals, never the certainty.

What you visit

The visit to the reserve is always with a guide and lasts about two hours. From the interpretation centre, where the species' peculiarities are explained, to the reserve is 2 km, covered on foot, by ordinary or electric bicycle, by horse-drawn trap or by off-road vehicle; in winter there are also snowshoes. The bison are watched from three points, and the guide chooses one or another depending on where they are that day. The horse-drawn trap only runs if the weather allows; in autumn a trap without horses is offered, with a minimum of four people.

In San Martín de Perapertú, the same project has a Quaternary park where Przewalski's horse and the European bison live together, in a more open space. In San Cebrián you can also visit the Mirador de las Estrellas, a former coal drying shed from 1956 turned into an observatory in 2006, by appointment and with a minimum of six people, and there is a hostel, the Goina, with 30 places in the former rectory.

Bike routes and groups

On Saturdays at 10:30 a 4 km bike route of about two hours leaves, easy, with a minimum of seven people and only for over-14s; you can bring your own bike or hire one of their six mountain or seven electric bikes, and they lend a helmet. On the last Sunday of each month there is a 16.6 km circular route of four hours between the reserve and the Quaternary park. For groups of 30 to 50 people they offer a day from 10:30 to 16:30 with the bison and horse route, a museum of the area and lunch, for €45 per person: you book a month in advance and pay half when booking.

Times, prices and booking

In winter it opens at weekends and on public holidays from 10:00 to 12:30, the time of the last visit; from June to September there is also a weekday visit at 10:30, by off-road vehicle and electric bike. On foot it costs €10.50; children aged 3 to 7 pay €5 and over-67s and people with disabilities, €9.50; under-3s go in free. With transport, from €15 by off-road vehicle or trap and €18 by electric bike. Groups of more than 15 must call beforehand. You book online, on 979 605 823 or 623 025 605, or by email.