La Rectoral Hotel (Taramundi)

La Rectoral Hotel occupies a restored 18th-century stone rectory (rectoral in Asturian) in the village of Taramundi, a rural municipality of approximately 700 inhabitants in the far western corner of Asturias, close to the Galician border. The village sits at roughly 640 metres altitude in forested hill country cut by the Turia and Cabreira rivers. Taramundi has been recognised as one of Spain's most notable rural heritage villages and has been known since the medieval period for blacksmithing — specifically the handcrafted multi-blade penknives still produced in the area's traditional water-powered forges (ferrerías), which continue to operate as both working workshops and visitor attractions.

The hotel building dates to the 1700s and retains its original stone façade, slate roof and thick-walled interiors. A restoration in the 1990s, part of Asturias's rural tourism initiative, introduced modern plumbing and central heating while preserving exposed stone walls, timber ceiling beams and the proportions of the original rooms. The result is a property with the character of a refined rural manor house rather than a conventional hotel.

Room types include standard doubles, twin configurations and a suite. Each room is individually furnished in a restrained rustic style with quality linens and private bathrooms. A mature garden surrounds the building and provides outdoor seating in warmer months. The on-site restaurant is widely considered the property's strongest asset, serving dishes rooted in Asturian cuisine — local river trout, slow-cooked game meats and artisan mountain cheeses — with emphasis on ingredients sourced from the surrounding countryside. A small shop on the premises stocks La Rectoral's own branded craft knives, an unusual souvenir tied directly to Taramundi's cultural identity.

There is no pool or dedicated spa. Service is attentive and personal. The property is best suited to adults and couples seeking quiet rural immersion, regional gastronomy and cultural heritage rather than resort-style leisure facilities.