Ecomuseo Ca l’Asturcón, established in 1986, is a pioneering agritourism project in Asturias, Spain. It integrates traditional rural activities like livestock farming and crafting with contemporary tourism offerings, promoting sustainability and cultural heritage preservation.
Cultural association
1986
Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain
Ecomuseo Ca l’Asturcón combines livestock farming with ceramics and wool crafting, emphasizing the preservation of endangered native breeds and ecological commitments. It’s located in a traditional house in Les Mariñes de Villaviciosa, Sidra region, by the Cantabrian Sea.
Ecomuseo Ca l’Asturcón prides itself on offering a diverse range of services to its visitors. Apart from providing accommodation and catering, they also specialize in the tasting of local products, offering a genuine taste of the region’s culinary heritage. Moreover, their focus on social agriculture sets them apart, allowing visitors to engage directly with the agricultural activities on the farm, fostering a deeper connection with the land and its traditions. The management structure, being a cultural association comprising family members, ensures a personal touch in every aspect of the visitor experience. Even with retired family members contributing, the core values and dedication to the project remain unwavering.
Ecomuseo Ca l’Asturcón’s journey in agritourism has been marked by both advantages and disadvantages. One significant advantage is the alignment of their business with a fulfilling life model, which transcends mere profitability. This approach has enabled them to weather challenges more effectively and maintain authenticity in their offerings. However, challenges such as local misunderstanding and insufficient institutional support have been hurdles along the way. Nevertheless, the family’s resilience and commitment have allowed them to navigate these obstacles and emerge stronger, with a deeper understanding of the industry and its intricacies.
Ecomuseo Ca l’Asturcón’s commitment to innovation, diversification, and multifunctionality has been integral to its success and sustainability. By integrating traditional activities like livestock farming and ceramics with contemporary tourism offerings, they have created a unique value proposition that attracts visitors seeking authentic experiences. This multifaceted approach not only enriches the visitor experience but also contributes to the preservation of cultural heritage and environmental sustainability. Despite facing challenges such as local misunderstanding and lack of institutional support, Ecomuseo Ca l’Asturcón has remained steadfast in its commitment to its model, demonstrating the resilience and adaptability necessary for long-term success in agritourism.
Ecomuseo Ca l’Asturcón’s journey offers valuable lessons for other farmers aspiring to venture into agritourism. They emphasize the importance of starting with low-investment businesses like tastings or workshops, which not only minimize financial risk but also allow for experimentation and adaptation based on visitor feedback. Collaboration with existing accommodation providers can also be beneficial, providing access to established networks and customer bases. Additionally, they highlight the significance of a strong work ethic, adaptability, and a commitment to learning from mistakes as essential qualities for success in agritourism. Overall, Ecomuseo Ca l’Asturcón’s experience underscores the potential for agritourism to not only generate economic value but also promote cultural heritage preservation and environmental sustainability.
The Farms’ Charm project aims to develop learning materials to educate small and medium-sized farmers in possible ways of starting their agritourism activities which will help them not only diversify their incomes but also promote their farm products directly to consumers. All that while reviving the rural areas and local communities and promoting a sustainable way of tourism which is in line with the tendencies of slowing down and staying longer at one area.
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. The content of this website reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
