Castroserna de Arriba between sgraffito, riverside paths and festivals

Castroserna de Arriba lies on the banks of the San Juan River. The irregular arrangement of the houses immediately stands out in the villagescape: they are built from solid limestone, and their façades often feature the sgraffito typical of the region. Next to the riverside park stands a well-preserved potro de herrar, a traditional shoeing stock made from local juniper wood.

Villagescape

The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Rosario in Castroserna de Arriba is part of the village's architectural history. It was originally a Romanesque church and was extensively remodeled later. Those who explore the village through its architectural forms encounter both regional façade decoration and a preserved piece of rural craftsmanship.

Landscape

The higher-lying part of the area around Castroserna de Arriba is covered by dense stands of juniper and holm oak. Griffon vultures nest on the cliffs on both sides of the increasingly narrowing river valley, along the riverside path from Castroserna de Arriba to Castroserna de Abajo. The limestone uplands historically provided high-quality pastures, which were used by Churra sheep to produce high-quality milk-fed lamb.

Hiking trails

For planning your day, you can distinguish the routes by their course and length. The Ruta del Molino Blanco is an easy trail; it begins opposite the ruins of the Marqués's house and follows the river to an old grain mill. From this old mill, the route continues along limestone cliffs to the Cueva del Horcajo, which served as a refuge for shepherds and farmers. An approximately 11-kilometre hiking trail connects Castroserna de Arriba with Prádena and passes the ruins of Matandrino.

The Ruta del Río San Juan, Circuito 2, is a linear trail a little over five kilometres long. It has hardly any changes in elevation and is suitable for families. An information board about this route is located by the parish church of Castroserna de Arriba. The longer circular route “Las tierras del Marquesado de Castroserna” passes through Castroserna de Arriba, Castroserna de Abajo, Villafranca, Perogordo and Serna de Velosillo; it is 32.43 km long.

When considering a holiday apartment in Castroserna de Arriba, compare the travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions on the respective offer page. Alongside trails, buildings and festival dates, these three details are separate aspects of your personal planning.

Festivals

The San Roque festival on 16 August at the saint's hermitage includes a mass, jota dances and paloteo. The celebration of Nuestra Señora del Rosario y de la Esperanza takes place on the first weekend in October.

Other places: Collado Hermoso, Valseca, Fresno De Cantespino, Espirdo, Castroserna De Abajo, Carbonero El Mayor, Abades, Los Cortos

For the higher-level travel overview: Segovia.