Discover Cebreros: Camino de Santiago, Churches, ESA and Wine

The Camino de Levante, a section of the Camino de Santiago, passes through Cebreros. From San Martín de Valdeiglesias, the route reaches Cebreros via a 14.27 km section; from Cebreros, a 37.2 km stage continues to Ávila. The different route lengths can be compared directly.

Routes and Landscape

The hermitage and the surrounding area of Valsordo are located just over two kilometres from Cebreros, in the direction of the Valsordo bridges, where the Alberche River flows past. Pine trees, rockroses and numerous Garnacha Cebrereña vines grow around Valsordo.

Architecture and History

Alonso de Covarrubias drew up the plans for Iglesia de Santiago Apóstol; with the contribution of Pedro de Tolosa, the building acquired a strongly Herrerian style. Its furnishings include polychrome works made of pinewood and decorated with gold leaf, featuring paintings by Giuseppe de Leonardo.

Iglesia Vieja de Santiago was built in the second half of the 14th century in the Elizabethan Gothic style and rebuilt in the 15th century. La Picota is a 16th-century Rollo de justicia and a landmark of Cebreros; it stands on the historic route between Valladolid and Toledo.

The Ruta Cela connects Cebreros with Camilo José Cela’s stays there between 1947 and 1950, during which he completed La Colmena and found inspiration for works such as El gallego y su cuadrilla.

Knowledge and Discoveries

Sala Universo is the visitor centre of the European Space Agency in Cebreros and the only facility of its kind operated by the ESA in Europe. Sala Universo presents the ESA’s activities and missions throughout its history, as well as various resources it offers for everyday life; these are explained using digital media and in a generally understandable way.

Festivals and Culinary Traditions

The Cebreros Carnival is considered a tradition that has been celebrated in the town for more than two hundred years; in 2021, it was recognised as a Festival of National Tourist Interest in Spain. The Cebreros Carnival includes a competition for carnival sweets, which is open to everyone and allows visitors to sample the participants’ entries.

The Romería takes place on the first Sunday in May in the vicinity of the Valsordo hermitage. The Romería procession around the Valsordo hermitage ends with an auction and bidding for the Banzos.

The grape harvest festival includes wine tastings and talks by wineries and oenologists. There is also a competition in cutting and treading grapes. Cebreros’ traditional cuisine is particularly characterised by sweet treats and wine. Traditional sweets from Cebreros include Rosquillas, Huesillos, Retorcidos, Mantecados, Flores, Magdalenas and Sequillos.

Tierras de Cebreros offers guided cellar tours and wine tastings at its location in Cebreros. Throughout the wider Cebreros wine-growing area, many wineries organise cellar tours as well as wine and gastronomy days.

Other Places

Other destination pages in the same area: Mombeltrán, Muñopepe, Gilbuena, El Hoyo De Pinares, San Bartolomé de Pinares, Blacha, Cuevas Del Valle, Fuente El Saúz

To the higher-level travel overview: Avila.