Fontibre

Fontibre in the municipality of Hermandad de Campoo de Suso in Cantabria holds the remarkable distinction of being the official source of the Ebro river — the longest river entirely within Spain — where bicarbonate springs emerge from the limestone of the Cordillera Cantábrica to form the first waters of this great river. While the thermal infrastructure here is modest compared to major balnearios, the spring water itself has long been valued for its mineral purity and digestive properties. The surrounding Campoo valley is one of Cantabria's most beautiful agricultural landscapes, with mountain pastures, dairy farms and the reservoir of Embalse del Ebro reflected in the Cantabrian peaks. Visiting Fontibre combines mineral hydrology with the singular experience of standing at the birth of one of Iberia's great rivers.