Riano Webcam – See Pico Yordas in the Mountains of Leon

The Riano Webcam looks across the town of Riano, high in the mountains of Leon in northern Spain, to Pico Yordas and the pale limestone ridges that rise straight out of the valley. The church tower and red-roofed apartment blocks of the town line up on the right of the frame, under the pointed summit of the Yordas. To the left, a jagged grey range climbs above dark woodland, and in the foreground a timber pergola with angled posts shades a small parking area beside the road. The light does most of the work here: morning sun picks out every gully in the rock faces, and cloud can swallow the summits within minutes. A weather panel in the lower right corner shows the temperature in Riano and a three day forecast.

About Riano

Riano sits at 1,130 meters (3,707 feet) in the mountains of northeastern Leon province, about 95 kilometers (59 miles) from the city of Leon. The town in the picture is not the original Riano. The old village stood lower down, where the Esla and Yuso rivers meet, and it was demolished in July 1987 to make way for a reservoir. The water eventually covered nine settlements: old Riano, Anciles, Salio, Huelde, Escaro, La Puerta, Buron and Pedrosa del Rey, plus part of Vegacerneja. Residents were rehoused in a new town built on the slopes of Valcayo, above the waterline, and the most valued buildings were taken down and rebuilt stone by stone. The church of San Martin, now dedicated to Santa Agueda, the church of Nuestra Senora del Rosario, the Ermita de Quintanilla and two traditional granaries all made that move. The town had 476 residents in 2025.

The reservoir is the largest ever built in the Duero basin, and its winding arms give it roughly 100 kilometers (62 miles) of shoreline. Steep limestone peaks drop straight into the water, which is why the area is often called the Leonese fjords. Town and mountains both lie inside the Montana de Riano y Mampodre Regional Park.

Pico Yordas, also known as Pico Burin, gives the stream its name. It rises to about 1,964 meters (6,444 feet) some 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles) west-northwest of the town center, between Riano and the village of Liegos, and stands 589 meters (1,932 feet) clear of its neighbors. The Riano Webcam is sponsored by Embutidos Yordas, a Riano producer of meat and cured sausages, and run by Vayawebcam, which also streams the castle at Villapadierna, two cameras at Alto Campoo and a view of Tossa de Mar in Girona.

Weather and Climate in Riano

Riano has a cool oceanic climate, which at this altitude means long, cold winters and short, mild summers. The town’s weather station recorded an average of 1.1 C (34 F) in January and 16.2 C (61 F) in July between 1961 and 1988, with about 1,290 millimeters (51 inches) of precipitation a year. Frost is routine on winter nights, and snow can turn the grey ridges white. In the wet months low cloud often hides Pico Yordas completely.

The rain is spread unevenly. Across the ten years to 2024, July and August averaged around 30 millimeters (1.2 inches) of rain each, against roughly 120 millimeters (4.7 inches) in October and November. In the same data, summer afternoons averaged about 24 C (75 F) with nights near 12 C (54 F), which makes late summer the most reliable time for clear views of the rock. In mid October the poplars below the town begin to turn yellow.

Things to Do Near Riano

Boat trips leave the marina in Riano throughout the year and cruise the reservoir past the Ermita de Quintanilla, the drowned village of Huelde and the crests of Pico Gilbo and Pico Yordas. On land, a popular stop is a bench on the edge of town beside the church of Nuestra Senora del Rosario, nicknamed the most beautiful bench in Leon, which looks over the water to Gilbo, Yordas and Las Pintas. In town, the Museo Etnografico Comarcal de Riano displays Vadinian finds from the ancient people of these valleys, medieval stone steles and a recreated casa de humo, the traditional smoke house of the area.

Hikers have two obvious targets. Pico Gilbo, at 1,667 meters (5,469 feet), is one of the most popular climbs around the reservoir. The usual route up Pico Yordas starts in Liegos, follows a meadow valley up to the Collado Bausollo and finishes on a marked path to the summit. It covers about 8.4 kilometers (5.2 miles) out and back from the turnoff, with 839 meters (2,753 feet) of ascent and around four and a half hours of walking. If the Riano Webcam shows cloud down on the ridges, the summit will be in it too.

Similar Webcams You Might Like

More views from Castile and Leon, and another range of pale limestone peaks:

• Villapadierna Webcam
• Dolomites Webcam
• Merindades Bird Feeder Webcam

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Riano located?

Riano is in the province of Leon, in the Castile and Leon region of northern Spain, about 95 kilometers (59 miles) from the city of Leon. The town stands at 1,130 meters (3,707 feet) above the Riano reservoir, inside the Montana de Riano y Mampodre Regional Park.

What can you see on the Riano Webcam?

The camera looks across the edge of Riano to Pico Yordas and the grey limestone ridges around it. The church tower and red roofs of the town sit on the right, a jagged range fills the left, and a timber pergola beside a roadside parking area takes up the foreground.

What is the weather like in Riano?

Cool and wet for much of the year. The town’s long-term records give about 1 C (34 F) in January and 16 C (61 F) in July, with around 1,290 millimeters (51 inches) of precipitation a year, most of it outside high summer.

How high is Pico Yordas?

About 1,964 meters (6,444 feet), more than 800 meters (2,600 feet) above the town. It is also known as Pico Burin.

Can you hike up Pico Yordas?

Yes. The standard route starts in Liegos and reaches the summit by way of the Collado Bausollo. Allow around four and a half hours for the 8.4 kilometer (5.2 mile) round trip from the turnoff, with 839 meters (2,753 feet) of climbing.

What happened to the old village of Riano?

It was demolished in July 1987 and flooded by the new reservoir along with eight other settlements. Its church of San Martin was moved stone by stone to the new town, where it now serves as the church of Santa Agueda.

Why is Riano called the Leonese fjords?

The flooded valleys left steep limestone peaks dropping straight into long, narrow arms of water, a shape that reminds visitors of Norway. The reservoir has about 100 kilometers (62 miles) of shoreline.

Can you take a boat trip on the Riano reservoir?

Yes. Boats run from the marina in Riano throughout the year, passing the Ermita de Quintanilla, the drowned village of Huelde and close views of Pico Gilbo and Pico Yordas.

Source: Vayawebcam