Gran Hotel Pelayo is a gem in Spain's magnificent national park, Picos de Europa. It's named for Don Pelayo, an Asturian Christian who took refuge in the Cave of St. Mary halfway up a cliff (just down the hill from the hotel) in 718, prayed to the Virgin Mary, and led his small group to fight off the Moors. Pelayo and friends set up a Christian kingdom here, and many think it's the birthplace of Spain.
The hotel is set in an exquisite mountainside, with views of the park from every direction. Our room had a balcony looking out over the Cave of St. Mary and also the Catholic Cathedral just up the mountain. Each part of the day sheds new light on the cathedral and the hillside, and you can just spend your time waching the sun move!
We used this as a base for hiking in the Covadonga lakes area, and driving through the beautiful park. The hotel is first rate in all areas--bedding, furniture, bathroom amenities, and staff--and comes with a full buffet and cooked breakfast in a formal dining room.
There was a wedding party staying in the hotel, and we arrived in time to see the bride and groom leave the hotel by limo to drive the two-minute route up the mountain for their ceremony in the cathedral. If my husband and I hadn't been married for 25 years (and if we didn't happen to be Jewish) we would have given anything to pick this cathedral as the sight for our wedding!
I don't know how well known Picos de Europa is for North American tourists (we didn't run into any on this trip), but it's a real find, with elegant topography, historical significance, and superb hiking. And to top it off, you can stay in a five-star hotel after a day of breathtaking nature.