The foreland thrust and fold belt (Cantabrian Zone) of the Variscan Belt in NW Spain and the transition to the hinterland (Westasturian–Leonese Zone) was the location of a seismic experiment in 1991. The seismic reflection profile (ESCIN-1) is 140 km long and runs in an E–W direction.The interpretation and seismic modeling of the main reflective interfaces in the profile were made integrating available geological and geophysical data including surface geology, deep seismic reflection data from ESCIN-1, transmission velocities from a borehole, refraction and laboratory data. The geological and velocity model of the crust was tested obtaining synthetic seismograms and can be correlated with surface geology.The velocity model images the main crustal structures interpreted from ESCIN-1. The basal detachment of the foreland thrust and fold belt dips gently from 12 km in the easternmost part of the profile to 16 km in the transition to the hinterland to the west. A new interpretation is proposed for the structure above the basal detachment in the eastern end of the profile, where the basal detachment, at a depth of 12 km, is duplicated at 6.5 km by a N-dipping Alpine thrust that also duplicates part of the basement. In the western part, two deep reflective bands dip westward and the most conspicuous one can be followed from 16–27 km depth. The two bands, previously interpreted as crustal ramps, join a reflective lower crust that is located between 25 and 29 km and fades westwards. A reflective Moho interpreted at the base of the reflective lower crust dips and fades in the same direction from 30–34 km.