Discover Santa María de Huerta

Santa María de Huerta combines monastic culture, visible traces of fortifications, village history and landscape. The Cistercian monastery was declared a national monument in 1882. A holiday apartment in Santa María de Huerta can be assessed as an accommodation option based on travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions.

Culture and history

The tourist visit to the Cistercian monastery of Santa María de Huerta includes the church, two cloisters and the monastery buildings. The archaeological site of El Castro Celtíbero or “Ciclopeo” was recognised in June 1931 as an Asset of Cultural Interest (Bien de Interés Cultural, BIC).

El Castro Celtíbero or “Ciclopeo” includes ruined walls and a tower built from very large stones; some of these stones are up to 2.5 metres long and 1 metre wide. What remains of Belimbre Castle on the hill includes round towers on square bases, sections of a thick rubble-stone wall and a remnant of a cistern carved into the rock. Belimbre Castle is considered the origin of Santa María de Huerta as a settlement and monastery.

The Museo del pueblo of Santa María de Huerta has been collecting tools, household objects and agricultural equipment since 2014, reflecting local activities and customs from the 19th and 20th centuries. The traditional festivities in honour of the patron saint Nuestra Señora la Virgen del Destierro take place every year over three days around 8 September.

The municipality of Santa María de Huerta has two Peirones, also known as Pairones de San Pascual Bailón. Locals stop at these wayside shrines along the way and pray to the saint.

The town’s history and cultural heritage include the monastery, archaeological site, castle, museum and festivities. By contrast, Algondrón is characterised by its landscape and nature trail, while the walking route and a branch of the Camino del Cid represent separate route connections.

Nature

The Algondrón area lies within the Sabinares del Jalón SCI; its plateaus are characterised by juniper stands with scrubland and are interrupted by numerous majadas and ravines. The Algondrón area has a signposted route associated with rural inland tourism and ornithology. The plateaus, juniper stands, scrubland, majadas and ravines give the landscape several clearly distinguishable forms.

The Manantial de Algondrón is located in a lush valley on a connecting route between the municipalities of Santa María de Huerta and Iruecha.

Routes and getting there

The Camino al Mirador runs as a walking route along the wall of the Cistercian monastery to the threshing floors. The Camino del Cid branch “En tierra de nadie” ends in Santa María de Huerta; a stamp for the pilgrim passport is available at the Cistercian monastery.

Santa María de Huerta can be reached via the A-2 motorway and the railway line between Madrid and Barcelona.

Other places

Other places: Casarejos, Valdelagua del Cerro, Velamazán, Fuentetoba, Arévalo De La Sierra, Aldehuela del Rincón, Barriomartín, Lubia

To the higher-level travel overview: Soria.