El Franco is a municipality in the autonomous community of the Principality of Asturias.

It is bordered on the north by the Cantabrian Sea, to the west by Tapia, to the south by Castropol and Boal, and to the east by Cuaña.

During the Middle Ages, El Franco was split between the Lugo and Oviedo dioceses, and the administrative capital was in Castropol.

In 1852, the administrative seat was moved to El Franco in the parish of A Caridá.

El Franco is the birthplace of Corín Tellado, one of the world's best-selling writers in the Spanish language.