The road to Casielles is the ‘Petit Alpe d’Huez’ with 23 hairpin turns

# Casielles: A Ghost Town Adventure in the Spanish Mountains

Perched at 809 meters (2,654 feet) in Asturias's Ponga council, the tiny ghost town of Casielles is a hidden gem that'll make your heart race—and not just from the elevation. Nestled on the edge of Picos de Europa National Park, this place is like stepping back in time, with charming traditional stone houses, centuries-old Beyuscan granaries, and a quaint church dedicated to San Juan. The views toward Los Beyos Gorge? Absolutely breathtaking.

Now, here's the catch: getting there is definitely not for the faint of heart. The 4.1-km approach road is notorious among locals, earning the nickname "Small Alpe d'Huez" for good reason. Starting from the N-625 highway, you'll climb 472 meters with an average gradient of 11.51%—but that's just the baseline. The real challenge? Those 23 wickedly sharp hairpin turns, some hitting a punishing 21% gradient. The road itself is a narrow ribbon carved directly into the rock, mostly covered in loose gravel that turns treacherously slippery without warning. Many who drive it regularly will tell you they absolutely hate it.

But if you're up for the challenge, the reward is a spectacular mountain town frozen in time with stunning panoramic views that'll make every white-knuckle turn worth it.