Espinosa de los Monteros – Valleys, Hiking Trails and Culture

Espinosa de los Monteros lies in a landscape of three small, narrow valleys formed by the Lunada, Rioseco and La Sía rivers. Along the roads leading north, native forests, heathlands, green grazing pastures, rocky peaks and scattered Pasiego huts stretch across the landscape. The circular Camino de Noceda trail begins in the town and leads through green meadows to the Vallejas beech forest, which lies at the foot of impressive limestone cliffs.

Nature and Trails

The Senda del Monte Edilla is a signposted, moderately difficult 9-kilometre circular trail with an estimated duration of 2 hours and 30 minutes. It connects Espinosa de los Monteros with the Monte Edilla oak forest. The signposted GR 1006 Ruta de los Monteros covers a considerably greater scale: the difficult long-distance trail runs in one direction only for 80 kilometres from Espinosa de los Monteros to Oña and has an estimated duration of 23 hours.

The PR-BU 88 Entre Prados, by contrast, is an easy out-and-back trail connecting Quintanilla de los Prados and Espinosa de los Monteros through hay meadows, huts and a dense oak forest. The different trail lengths, trail types and durations can be compared for personal planning. The Piscinas Naturales de La Presa are located near the Torre de los Velasco, in the area of the Espinosa de los Monteros reservoir. There are opportunities for swimming and leisure activities, as well as green spaces, picnic areas and a prepared walking path along the Río Trueba.

Culture and Townscape

The Museo Etnográfico Cuatro Ríos Pasiegos is located at Calle Campo 10 in Espinosa de los Monteros. The Ruta Heráldica leads through the town’s streets, squares and corners, bringing its towers, palaces, churches, manor houses and traditional houses of Montañesian architecture to life.

The Torre de los Azulejos has been protected as a BIC since 1949, dates from the second half of the 16th century and features a Renaissance window decorated with azulejos. The Iglesia de Santa Cecilia is a 16th-century Renaissance church with some Gothic remains. Its construction began in 1527 over a Romanesque church, from which a column attached to the south wall has survived.

A palace from the early 17th century has a portal bearing the coat of arms of the Zorrilla San Martín family. It is protected by a segmental arch and flanked by two towers with balconies. A building from the mid-15th century is considered to have a square layout; its corner towers bear the original coats of arms with five lilies and a castle.

Traditions and Local Connections

Pasiega culture includes the seasonal relocation of families in connection with livestock farming to higher-lying pastures between spring and autumn. The Romería de Nuestra Señora de las Nieves takes place every year on 5 August in Las Machorras and includes a procession and traditional dances. The Romería has been designated as a FITR since 2001; it features eight dancers as well as the figures of Mayoral, Rabadán and Bobo.

At the entrance to Espinosa de los Monteros, there is a railway station on the Ferrocarril de la Robla line, which connects La Robla in León with Bilbao.

Other Places

Viloria De Rioja, Hortigüela, Valle De Las Navas, Burgos, Rebolledo De La Torre, Loma De Montija, Caleruega, Zazuar

To the higher-level travel overview: Burgos.