Arcones: Nature Trails, Romanesque Church and Local Festivals

The fifth stage of the Cañada Real Soriana Occidental Nature Trail runs from Navafría to Arcones entirely through the Sierra Norte de Guadarrama Nature Park. The nature park is also designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) within the Natura 2000 network.

Nature and Trails

The Cañada Real Soriana Occidental is a 103 km-long, original nature route in the province of Segovia that passes through a variety of landscapes. The caves of Arcones are karst caves with springs and underground rivers; their water flow varies depending on the season.

The Arcones calcite deposit contains well-crystallised calcite geodes, which are considered to have high museum value. The deposit lies approximately 600 m northwest of the N-110 and can be reached via an unpaved road.

Hiking and Cycling

A 16.19 km-long hiking route suitable for beginners leads from Gallegos to Arcones via the Cañada Real Soriana Occidental. Arcones also has various cycling routes with different levels of difficulty. You can consider different route lengths and difficulty levels as separate points of comparison for your personal planning.

For your personal planning, the two forms of activity can be considered separately and have different focuses. The choice between them is therefore a question of the desired type of activity, not of combining all routes into a single offering.

Culture

The Iglesia de San Miguel is a 13th-century Romanesque parish church in Arcones. It has an unusual fourth apse area, which served as the concluding chapel of the atrium.

The Ermita de Nuestra Señora de La Lastra stands in the La Lastra area of Arcones on calcareous ground.

The Museo de las Hundas y la Trashumancia in Arcones presents the geological significance of the area and pastoral depictions of the lives of men and women in a permanent exhibition.

Church architecture, the museum, festival customs and pastoral traditions provide different thematic approaches to the culture of Arcones.

Festivals and Cuisine

During the Carnaval de Arcones, also known as the Fiesta de la Vaquilla, the representation of a vaquilla is symbolic and does not involve a real bullfight: a wooden structure with bull horns provides space for one person. Paloteo dances are part of the September festivals held in honour of the Virgen de La Lastra.

Arcones’ pastoral tradition includes a caldereta made from mature mutton or lamb, which is prepared at various public and private celebrations.

Getting There

From Segovia, Arcones can be reached via the N-110 towards Soria after 41 km.

When comparing holiday apartments in Arcones, you can review the travel dates, room category and cancellation policies together. These three details help you organise offer pages according to the conditions relevant to you.

Other Places

Torrecaballeros, Cozuelos de Fuentidueña, Pelayos del Arroyo, Valseca, Zarzuela del Pinar, Valdevarnés, Cerezo De Arriba, La Pradera De Navalhorno

For the overarching travel overview: Segovia.