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Route through the charming villages of Soria
Soria, Soria
(2)
Traditions, history, illustrious characters, cultural heritage of the lands of Soria
Difficulty-Low
72:00 h.
431 km.
Soria, Soria (2)
Traditions, history, illustrious characters, cultural heritage of the lands of Soria
Difficulty-Low
72:00 h.
431 km.
The Meseta Soriana, Tierra de Ágreda, the Highlands or Pine Groves among others, all of them regions of the province of Soria, shelter great natural spaces of incalculable beauty, furrowed some of them by the untiring river Duero. But these regions of Soria also treasure, jealously, the traces of the passage of history through them, a history reflected in its architectural heritage and in the different villages that make them up. Medieval villages, charming towns and historic villas await us in the province of Soria, eager to be visited to show us their corners and the beauty of the natural landscapes that in many cases surround them.
To travel this route through the charming villages of Soria is to enter the streets and towns through which important characters of history passed, while we are surprised, almost at every step, with the careful places we visit and that in many cases we could not imagine that they kept so much beauty. Towns, some of them framed within the most beautiful villages of Spain, that preserve and take care of with all the affection of the people who live in them so that when visiting them, their castles and churches, their streets and squares, transport us to past times in which Almanzor imposed his dominion or in which Machado wrote some of his best poems. It is a singular experience to follow this route through Soria, an itinerary that will allow us to calmly observe the marked contrast of the different places that surround each town we visit and that go from the wild and vigorous nature of the Region of Pinares to the extensive fields of the Meseta Soriana. Villages with deep-rooted traditions and famous gastronomy that will make our Route through the charming villages of Soria an unforgettable memory of our visit.
What better starting point for this route through Soria than one of the most beautiful villages in Spain, Yanguas. In the north of the province of Soria and bordering on La Rioja. Yanguas surrounds us with the charms of its streets and buildings making us go back in time to times when it was famous, among other things, for its trade, reflected in the figure of the Yanguas muleteers. A splendor and a history that today we can see printed when we walk through its well cared streets after crossing the Gate of the River or the Gate of the Village, the only remains of the old wall that protected the village. As we approach the Castle of Yanguas, built in the twelfth century, to visit the Church of San Lorenzo, the Church of Santa Maria and the Tower of San Miguel will be visiting a Historic-Artistic Site of remarkable importance and beauty. A charming town, also surrounded by a natural environment of great beauty that invites us to discover it by following some of the hiking trails that run through it, no doubt more than enough reasons to visit the town of Yanguas.
We start the march towards the second stop of this Route through the charming villages of Soria, towards the town of San Pedro Marique, a town marked by the showiness and character of its traditions and folklore. The Romanesque Church of San Martín de Tours from the 12th century, the Hermitage of the Virgen de la Peña from the 13th century, the remains of its ancient wall and the harmony of its old town, are forced to give way or share their protagonism with the Day of San Juan. This is the day on which the Móndidas go through the streets of San Pedro Marique dressed in their typical costumes. But it is also the night in which the famous Pass of the Fire is celebrated, an ancestral ritual that begins after midnight and in which the waiters of the town, known as the "pasadores", cross with their bare feet the incandescent embers of the bonfire that is lit next to the Hermitage of the Virgin of the Rock.
We bid farewell to the Highlands region and set off for the Pinares region, but not before being tempted by visits to other towns such as Garray or Soria itself, which add their charms to those of jewels such as Numancia, Arches of San Juan or the Hermitage of San Saturio. Vinuesa awaits us bathed by the calm waters of the Cuerda del Pozo reservoir and protected by the attentive gaze of the Picks of Urbión. An idyllic setting surrounds this town, also known as the Court of the Pine Trees, by the royal characters who settled here for their summer residence and hunting. The history of Vinuesa goes back even before the Roman conquerors and it lives its great splendour in the Middle Ages. Proof of this are its monuments, such as the Church of Our Lady of the Pine, the various chapels that we can find or the battered palaces of the Marquises of Vilueña or Don Pedro de Neyla, not forgetting the old Roman bridge whose remains lie under the waters of the reservoir waiting for it to retreat enough to show itself to us again.
We continue with the route crossing this Region of Pines where also they settle, enters other localities, the populations of Covaleda or Duruelo of the Mountain range. We go to San Leonardo de Yagüe and from there we enter the spectacular Lobos River Canyon Natural Park where the town of Ucero awaits us. Under the watchful eye of its historic castle built in the 12th century, Ucero is located at the gates of a priceless natural area that blends its natural beauty with the culture and history it treasures. The Hermitage of San Bartolomé, in the heart of the Lobos River Canyon Natural Park, is the best preserved of all those that the town of Ucero used to have.
Our journey continues by leaving behind us this spectacular natural site carefully guarded by the town of Ucero and its castle. Real architectural and historical jewels await us as our next stop, El Burgo de Osma. Celtiberians, Romans, Visigoths or Muslims passed through these lands leaving their indelible mark in the current City of Osma in the form of precious archaeological remains and monuments of great historical and architectural value. The Cathedral of Santa María de la Asunción, Osma Castle, the walls or the Episcopal Palace, compete for our attention with the Main Square or the well-kept streets of the old town. These streets were also walked by great illustrious characters that make today El Burgo de Osma is an obligatory step of the well-known route of the Way of the Cid in its part called El Destierro. But this town is also famous for its outstanding Holy Week, which has been declared of tourist interest.
It is difficult to say goodbye to El Burgo de Osma to continue our journey to the nearby town of San Esteban de Gormaz, a spectacular historical and artistic site. Ancient crossroads, today it is travelled along routes such as the Way of the Cid, the Wool Route or the Wine Route. Its castle was built in the 9th century and was the site of countless disputes over control of this strategic square, which gradually became equally important and splendid. Proof of this are the magnificent Romanesque churches that are preserved in San Esteban de Gormaz, the Church of the Virgen del Rivero and the Church of San Miguel with its arcaded galleries. This heritage is enhanced by the natural surroundings of this town in Soria, presided over by the majestic Duero River that bathes the town, giving it even more character and personality.
We return in part on our steps to leave El Burgo de Osma behind us again and head this time towards one of the most splendid medieval villages of this Route through the charming towns of Soria, Calatañazor. Loaded with legends, battles, traditions, in short, history, Calatañazor surprises us with its rugged location, the care it takes of its streets and buildings, as well as its important cultural and architectural heritage. The Castle of Calatañazor was, according to the historical facts that happened here and according to the legend that surrounds them, a witness of the first and definitive defeat of the until then invincible Almanzor. But to this interesting history we can add monuments like the hermitage of La Soledad or the Church of Our Lady of the Castle, without forgetting the no less important natural heritage that surrounds Calatañazor like the nearby Sabinares Sierra of Cabrejas or the Natural Monument of La Fuentona of Muriel.
As if we were following in the footsteps of Almanzor in his desperate flight after the defeat he suffered in Calatañazor, we say goodbye to this medieval town to continue our journey through some of the most beautiful villages in Soria. Our next stop awaits us, adorned with all the splendour that its impressive architectural heritage provides. The Palace of the Marquises of Berlanga, the Collegiate Church of Santa María del Mercado or the slender Picota or Rollo Castellano, without forgetting of course the impregnable Castle of Berlanga de Duero, are the unbeatable presentation card that this town of Soria offers us. Undoubtedly a monumental set that allows us to approach part of the history that surrounds Berlanga de Duero, border between ancient kingdoms along the nearby river Duero.
We retrace Almanzor's steps in his retreat to the not so distant Medinaceli not without first stopping again on the way to visit the small but surprising medieval fortified town of Rello. Situated on top of a wild rock, this well cared for town of Soria surprises its visitors. Walking through its streets under the protection of the strong walls that surround the town invites us to imagine a mortally wounded Almanzor taking refuge in the nearby caliphal watchtower known as the Tower of the Tiñón, where according to some accounts the Muslim leader perished. Back in our era, Rello and its historical site, also formed by the remains of its old castle, as it could not be otherwise, do not cease to surprise us at every step, even more if we lean out of its walls settled in some areas on the edge of the abyss.
We return to our trip without being able to stop looking back to contemplate the spectacular site of the medieval town of Rello that we have just visited. One characteristic, the spectacular nature of its strategic location, which it shares with the next stop on the route through the charming villages of Soria, Medinaceli. Romans, Arabs and Christians, among others, passed through this town disputing their control in many cases, and leaving us for our days an extensive and magnificent monumental site. Medinaceli, according to some historians, was the true place where the caudillo Almanzor perished, but what leaves no room for doubt is that Medinaceli is a jewel as a whole. Its streets, sometimes so narrow and convoluted that they look like a real labyrinth, the Renaissance style Ducal Palace, the Convent of Santa Isabel, the Collegiate Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, its Main Square or its Castle, are a must on our tour of Medinaceli, a tour in which one of the symbols of the town, the Roman Arch of Medinaceli, cannot be missed either.
We descend from the unsurpassable watchtower on which the old Medinaceli stands to go up the province of Soria again in search of its northern end. Almazán and the mixture of Romanesque, Baroque, Renaissance and Gothic architectural styles that make up its artistic ensemble await us. Without a doubt, it shows unequivocally the delicate history that accompanies this town of Soria. The Gate of Blacksmiths, the Gate of the Market or the Gate of the Clock allow us to enter the historical centre of Almazán through the remains of its old walled enclosure. There are several monuments, churches, hermitages and convents that await us when we visit Almazán, but above all, we should highlight the group of monuments that we will find when we immerse ourselves in the Main Square. A square in which almost at the moment the Palace of the Hurtado de Mendoza and the Church of San Miguel, this last one a treasure of the Romanesque of Soria, will call our attention.
We continue the journey looking for the last stop of this Route through the charming villages of Soria. At the foot of the colossal Moncayo, on the border between the provinces of Soria and Zaragoza, is the town of Ágreda and its rich monumental heritage. Loaded with history, there were notable illustrious characters that in one way or another contributed to the splendour that Ágreda has had for years. Proof of it are the numerous churches that the town has or the remains of the old Moorish quarter without forgetting the Palace of the Castejones and its Renaissance garden or the small synagogue. By Ágreda also passes the Way of Santiago of Soria, more known by the Castilian Aragonese Way, that crosses the province from east to west in its search of the tomb of the Apostle, forming part of the old and present history of the town of Ágreda final point of this route by the towns with enchantment of Soria.
1-Organize the time available taking into account the time you will have to dedicate to each village. Distribute the route by zones to lose the minimum possible time in the displacements.
2-Keep in mind that some of the places that can be visited within each town on the route have their corresponding visiting hours.
3-There are several charming corners, archaeological sites, castles, etc., outside the towns included in this route but close to its route that are worth taking advantage of and making a detour to visit them.
4-Be sure to try the typical dishes that are the hallmark of the province of Soria and of each village in it.
5-Find out beforehand about the state of the roads, since in many cases they are local sections that can present complications depending on the weather.
Map of the route
This map is a sketch made as an example of the route, in no case represents the best or the only itinerary to follow. Its development has not taken into account the current rules of circulation or the state of the places through which it passes and that could affect its layout.
En este puente del Pilar he estado en la Ermita de San Baudelio. Ha sido una gran decepción: NO te dejan ver la gruta, tampoco acceder al segundo piso a contemplar pinturas; no permiten acceder por la entrada superior ni contemplar la zona alta del árbol. Sólo permiten acceder a la primera planta y lo que veas o intuyas desde ahí. La ermita está desatendida, con personal que no atiende al visitante, sin conocimiento de la obra que están presentando y además poco tendente al diálogo (solo te dejan una fotocopia plastificada). Una auténtica pena. Así no merece la pena desplazarse hasta este lugar. Por favor, se necesita un cambio radical.
La provincia de Soria tiene un montón de sitios que ver y sus pueblos son uno de ellos. Me quedan todavía alguno de los de esta lista por visitar, me los apunto.
Place of burial of a holy body, Saint of the River, Saint of the Duero
One of the first villas, from the late Roman period, excavated in the Peninsula
Rocks polished by natural elements that hold the memory of millions of years
Romanesque, Gothic, Cistercian, Baroque, Plateresque
With a mountainous and wild character, The Caves, for the locals
¿Did you know that...
Soria is the least densely populated province in Spain and one of the least populated in the European Union. The majority of the 500 villages that make up the province do not have more than 100 inhabitants, and Soria is the capital of the province, where a large part of the population lives.
Don't miss out...
The natural spaces that you can find along the route, such as the Lobos River Canyon, the Black Lagoon and the Urbión Glacier Cirques, the Sabinar of Calatañazor, the Acebal of Garagüeta or La Fuentona, where you can also enjoy nature, among other activities.
Distance of the route
431 Km. This figure may vary depending on the route we follow
Duration of the route
From 2 to 3 days
Time of year
All year round
Charm
Historical, cultural and landscape. This route shows us a large part of the territory of Soria
From the commitment of SENDITUR with Nature and the respect to the balance of the environment, SENDITUR urges you to travel in a responsible way, with low environmental impact and respecting at all times the Natural, Cultural and Social environment wherever you go.
Besides sharing with all of us your experience on the route we would be grateful if you could write to us to inform us of any erroneous or outdated information you may have found, or simply to let us know what you think at Thank you.
Route information updated on 06-11-2020. The route may vary greatly depending on the time of year, weather conditions and terrain, as well as the actions of third parties and the evolution suffered in the natural environment where it is located. All opinions, advice and/or assessments made by SENDITUR in their descriptions are for guidance only and are subject to and/or refer to the specific conditions of the specific day of the route, referring to that specific day, taken from trained people, with the appropriate experience and with a high level of physical and technical preparation as a reference, as well as correctly equipped.
All the times are approximate and take an orientative character, the stops have not been taken into account, no matter how small they are. All the information related to the route, texts, images, videos, maps, diagrams, tracks, towns, and places of tourist interest are published as a guide, and may not coincide with the current state of each place. Before undertaking any activity, assess your technical knowledge, your physical condition, find out about the weather and the variations that the route may undergo, equip yourself correctly, be prudent and responsible at all times, and do not exceed your capabilities. SENDITUR is not responsible for any misuse or inappropriate use of the comprehensive guides of its routes and/or publications as well as its electronic guides, nor for any variations in their descriptions for the aforementioned reasons, and recommends that everyone be responsible and prudent in carrying out the activity. We also encourage you to read books and specialised guides to complement the information described above.
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