Melgar de Fernamental: Aqueduct, Festivals and River Routes

Melgar de Fernamental can be discovered through its water engineering, river landscape and festive traditions. The Acueducto de Abánades, also known as the Acueducto del Rey, is an aqueduct with five arches through which the Canal de Castilla crosses the Valdavia River. From Carrecalzada, 2 kilometres from Melgar de Fernamental, the “San Carlos de Abánades” boat operates trips lasting approximately 60 minutes. During the journey, it makes a stop at the Acueducto de Abánades.

Nature

The Sendero de los Hortelanos / PRC-BU 190 runs through the vegetable gardens of Melgar de Fernamental, parallel to the Pisuerga River, across flat terrain. Along almost the entire route, riverside flora and fauna accompany walkers. In the wider regional surroundings of Melgar de Fernamental, there is also Manantial de Fuentes Claras, a spring. For planning purposes, the approximately one-hour boat trip and the route through flat terrain can be considered as different ways of experiencing nature and water.

The two water-related experiences have different focuses: for the boat trip, the duration is given as an approximately one-hour timeframe; the Sendero, by contrast, is described in terms of its flat route, vegetable gardens and the accompanying riverside flora and fauna. These forms can therefore be considered separately when planning the day. The spring in the wider regional surroundings adds another named location to this landscape context.

Culture

The Fiestas Mayores Patronales of Melgar de Fernamental take place from 14 to 17 August in honour of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción and San Roque. Highlights include the procession of the peñas and floats, as well as the singing of the “Salve”. The Iglesia de la Asunción contains choir stalls with 21 seats; the panels depict figures of saints and feature rocaille decoration. On the Sunday after the patron-saint festivities, Melgar de Fernamental hosts the Feria de la Huerta y del producto ecológico. It includes an exhibition and additional activities promoting local horticultural, organic and craft products.

The cultural events combine a fixed period in August with a later Sunday event. Within the same theme, the patron-saint festivities with their procession and singing stand alongside the fair with its exhibition and additional activities. The architectural and furnishing details of the Iglesia de la Asunción provide a distinct focus among the cultural sites.

History

The Casa del Cordón dates back to the mid-16th century; some authors consider its original purpose to have been a pilgrims’ hospital. The wider regional surroundings of Melgar de Fernamental also include the Castillo de Castrojeriz as a castle, the Casa de los Gutiérrez Barona as a historical site, the Casa del Cordón as a historical site, and the Palacio de los Condes de Castro as a historical site.

The culture section thus brings together different scales: individual buildings and their traditional functions stand alongside several historical sites and a castle in the wider regional surroundings. This distinction keeps the locations separate according to their respective classifications instead of presenting them as a single ensemble. In this way, local details and regional destinations remain clearly distinct.

Further destinations: Frías, Alarcia, Rabé de las Calzadas, Rubena, Peñacoba, Madrigalejo Del Monte, Brizuela, Remolino.

For the overarching travel guide: Burgos.