Matabuena – Trails, Mills and Sierra Norte

The Cañada Real Soriana Occidental runs through the municipality of Matabuena. Every year, transhumant livestock travelled along it from the province of Soria towards Extremadura. The Senda de los Pastores also runs through Matabuena and forms part of a 154.90-kilometre trail. Because of the quality of the night sky along this route, it was certified by the Fundación Starlight.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Matabuena, you can check travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions side by side on the respective offer pages. This allows you to compare different options based on your travel plans without any single detail determining the entire decision for your stay.

Trails and landscape

The scenic route that includes Matabuena runs entirely through the Parque Natural Sierra Norte de Guadarrama. Route 5, “Roads and castles to adorn the landscape”, leads from Pedraza via Matabuena to Puerto de Navafría. The Matabuena–Puerto de Linera route follows the old road to the pass. Matabuena is also located on the N-110 national road between Plasencia and Soria. For planning purposes, you can distinguish the routes by their course, connection to the pass and night-sky theme.

Other places

Other places in the same destination area: Martín Muñoz De Las Posadas, Aldea Real, El Espinar, Corral de Ayllón, Duruelo, La Matilla, Aldealengua De Santa María, Los Huertos.

Water and village history

Because of its abundance of water, Matabuena has plenty of vegetation and numerous fountains. The Fuente San Pedro is a fountain dating from 1951 on Matabuena’s central square; its water comes from a spring beside the Peña del Castillejo. The Fuente Buena in Cañicosa was built in 1933 during the Republic, and its water comes from the Prado de la Tolla.

Culture

The Molino de Abajo remained in operation until the 1970s and was known as the molino del Habanero; its walls are still standing. Only a few remains of the Molino de Arriba survive. The Museo del Molino opened in Matamala in 2002. It displays used mill parts and machinery and explains how they worked. La Fragua in Matabuena preserves its bellows and a stone.

The parish church of San Bartolomé preserves a Romanesque portal; the rest of the building was constructed in several later phases. The Ermita de San Martín in Cañicosa is a rectangular building with a round-arched portal and a bell gable. The year 1794 is inscribed at the base of its façade cross.

History and festivals

Settlers were already living in Matabuena during the Bronze Age. During excavations in 2003, carried out in preparation for the construction of the Frontón, caves with schematic engravings on their ceilings and walls were discovered.

In Cañicosa, the Fiesta de San Martín, the feast of the local patron saint, is celebrated on 4 July with a mass in the hermitage, a shared meal and music. On 1 May, the Romería to the Cruz de las Reliquias takes place. It leads to a cross located at an altitude of 1,957 metres; afterwards, a shared meal is held in the Los Bardales area.

To the main travel overview: Segovia.