Villagonzalo-Pedernales: Church, Festivals and Bonsai Museum

The Iglesia de San Vicente Mártir consists of three naves, a transept and a chapel. Its ribbed vaults are decorated with keystones and rest on columns. The vaults are said to resemble some of those in Burgos Cathedral. The main altarpiece dates from 1673.

History

In the 10th century, the double monastery of San Julián de Pedrenales was founded in Villagonzalo Pedernales for men and women; it disappeared in the 13th century after the Cistercian reform. Following the monastic reform in the 13th century, Villagonzalo Pedernales became an Abadengo dependent on Las Huelgas de Burgos Monastery. After an expansion approved by a Cistercian abbess in the 16th century, the Iglesia de San Vicente Mártir received its current dedication to San Vicente.

Culture

The Museo del Bonsái is located in Villagonzalo Pedernales Town Hall and covers approximately 400 square metres. It houses around 60 bonsai trees, as well as numerous suiseki stones and kusamono plants. The museum includes exhibition areas, a greenhouse and workrooms, as well as an area for educational workshops with courses and demonstrations.

Near Villagonzalo-Pedernales are the museum site Arco de Santa María, the Casa de Miranda Museum and the Mirador viewpoint. The Museum of Human Evolution is located in the vicinity of Villagonzalo-Pedernales. The historic site of Fuente de Santa María is also nearby.

Other place names: Montejo De Cebas, Castildelgado, Pardilla, Quintanilla Riopico, Valdelateja, Campillo de Aranda, Santo Domingo De Silos and Peñacoba.

Festivals and Flavours

For weather-related reasons, the San Vicente patron saint's festival is moved from 22 January to the second Sunday in September. The traditional Merendilla on Jueves de Todos includes tortilla de escabeche, torta de chorizo, guirlache and chocolate. The carnival tradition of Villagonzalo Pedernales includes a parade, dancing and separate competitions for adults and children.

Las Marzas are sung in the main square in front of the town hall as a call-and-response between two groups. Saint John's Eve is celebrated mainly with a large bonfire and dulzaineros; chocolate and sponge cake are part of the celebrations. The local festivals of Villagonzalo Pedernales also include the Feria Artealimenta, a fair for artisanally produced gastronomic products.

For a holiday apartment in Villagonzalo-Pedernales, travel dates, accommodation category and cancellation conditions can be considered independently of the chosen focus of the visit. The accommodation decision therefore remains a separate part of the planning, while the town's cultural offerings provide the thematic framework for planning the rest of the trip. Whether the church interior, bonsai exhibition or festival tradition is the main focus can be considered separately from the accommodation arrangements.

Surroundings

Near Villagonzalo-Pedernales is the Playa fluvial Fuente del Prior river beach. The Villas Del Arlanzon Molino Ramon Park and Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente Park are also located there.

For the higher-level travel overview: Burgos.