Ruud Streefkerk

During the 1st  and 2nd  century BC, Celts settled in this region. They were known for their courage in combat and for their worship of natural elements. A distinguished deity was 'Mons Vindius', the 'white mountain', a reference to the limestone rocks that are found here. Sheltered by these gods of stone, the Asturians and the Cantabrians were invincible for a long time, until after ten years of rebellion, Roman emperor Augustus defeated them. 700 Years later, in the year 711, Arabs reached this region, and again the mountains gave protection to the local population. A small local army held out against the enemy for a long time, and eventually this led to the battle of Covadonga in the 8th century, in which the Arabs were conquered.