Sheep, Cheese, a Restaurant, and a Lake: Closing the Circle

Paula Fernández and her brother Marcos knew from a very young age that they wanted to live and build their professional life in their hometown: Sahechores de Rueda, a small village in the province of León. There, they opened a restaurant by a lake, where they also organize sports activities. What they value most, however, is having “closed the circle”—from the initial production of their cheeses, a product so rooted in the land, and the care of the sheep, to enhancing the value of the milk in the workshop by making cheese, and how that product can attract tourists to their restaurant.

To develop tourism around the lake, they offer canoes for rent—along with paddleboards, water bikes, and the preferred choice for families: the pedal-powered swan. Nearby, there is also a camper van campsite, which is not directly tied to their main activity but helps attract visitors to the area. Their main goal was to be able to live in the village, and they have achieved it.