Ortigosa del Monte – Nature, Culture and Historic Routes

Ortigosa del Monte lies at the foot of the Segovian side of the Sierra de Guadarrama. The town also lies at the foot of the Cañada Soriana Occidental, a historic livestock trail that contributed to the development of Ortigosa del Monte. For planning your trip, nature trails, architectural history and regional connections can be considered as different areas of focus.

Nature

The route via the Camino de la Mora connects Ortigosa del Monte and La Losa. There are 3.5-kilometre and 6-kilometre variants; the route is suitable for all visitors. The two route lengths provide a simple framework for organising your daily plans. Holm oaks, ash trees and cork oaks grow along the Camino de la Mora; the route is considered a good birdwatching spot.

The Ortigosa del Monte–La Losa trail crosses the Río Milanillos on a wooden bridge. Los bolos gigantes is a geological educational trail through a granite landscape, where the formation of the granite formations is explained and which passes by former quarries. In the Province of Segovia, Peña Campanario is listed as a distinctive granite formation among the large granite blocks.

History

El Berrocal is classified as an archaeological site and was the most important supplier of stone for the construction of the Acueducto de Segovia. At the northwestern end of the archaeological site there is an old copper-mining shaft.

Casa del Esquileo included livestock pens, storage and work rooms, an oratory, living quarters for the owners and a place for drying wool. In the 18th century, Casa del Esquileo was a shearing yard and wool washery with a large portal bearing a family coat of arms.

Culture

The Iglesia de San Julián has a Gothic stone pulpit and a main altarpiece created by Francisco Sancho in the early 17th century. In its apse, the church preserves a narrow, undecorated slit window. It also preserves a Romanesque relic; the remodelling carried out in the 16th century has a major influence on the present-day building.

Cultural activities such as theatre, concerts and courses take place at the Centro Cultural Elena Fortún. The patron-saint festivities in honour of Nuestra Señora del Rosario take place in mid-August.

Other Places

Other places: Tizneros, Maderuelo, Valverde Del Majano, Segovia, Sauquillo de Cabezas, Nava De La Asunción, La Velilla and Chatún.

Getting There

A regional bus line connects Otero de Herreros, Ortigosa del Monte, La Losa, Navas de Riofrío, Revenga, Segovia Guiomar AVE station and Segovia in both directions.

Ortigosa del Monte railway station is located at Avenida Estación Ferrocarril, s/n, 40421 Ortigosa del Monte, Segovia. In the wider regional surroundings of the Otero de Herreros–Embalse del Pontón Alto stage of the Camino Natural de la Cañada Real Soriana Occidental, travellers can see Ortigosa del Monte and La Losa from the route.

To the main travel overview: Segovia.