Valdeavellano de Tera: Tales, Traditions and Cultural Heritage

Valdeavellano de Tera lies in a characteristic valley on the southern slope of the Sierra de Cebollera, which forms part of the Iberian System. The valley corresponds almost entirely to the catchment area of the Río Razón and its tributaries in the upper reaches of the Duero basin.

More town pages: Olvega, Santa María De Las Hoyas, Almajano, Valdelagua del Cerro, Cortos, Soria, Santa María de Huerta, San Esteban De Gormaz.

Townscape and Architectural Heritage

The townscape is spread out over a wide area: meadows lie between the buildings, alongside characteristic whitewashed houses, several Indianos-style buildings, religious structures and ethnographic features such as fountains and washhouses.

The parish church of Nuestra Señora de la Paz stands beside the entrance to the town on the road leading from Soria via Rollamienta to Valdeavellano de Tera. It probably originated as a Romanesque predecessor church from the 13th century; it was extensively rebuilt at the end of the 15th century and renovated in the 18th century.

The Torre del Reloj is a square tower built of rubble masonry with corner ashlar blocks, a clock and a bell that strikes the hours.

Sacred Places and Early History

About one kilometre north of Valdeavellano de Tera, the Ermita de las Espinillas stands in the El Chiribital area at the foot of the Castro de las Espinillas. The hermitage contains Romanesque depictions of the Virgin and Saint Mark, as well as votive offerings.

At the Castro de las Espinillas, extensive collapsed sections of a high defensive wall have survived. Based on the amount of stone that has accumulated, its height is estimated at around four metres. Experts believe that the Castro was probably built around the 6th century BC, during a transitional period between the castreña and later Celtiberian cultures.

Water, Festivals and Tradition

Valdeavellano de Tera still has four communal washhouses built in the 1950s: Santa Ana, Razones, Arrabal and el Chorre. The Los Razones and Arrabal washhouses, also known as del Soto, are located in the town centre; their construction began in 1952.

Each of the four districts has a traditional fountain with a small livestock trough.

The music associated with the Paloteo dances of Valdeavellano de Tera was written in 1941. The dances have been passed down through generations; their choreographies are preserved through oral tradition and earlier records.

On San Roquito Day, the celebrations move to the Ermita de la Virgen de las Espinillas and end with shared outdoor meals and the dancing return to the town. The Jueves de Espinillas celebration includes a mass and a pilgrimage to the Ermita de la Virgen de las Espinillas, followed by a communal meal near the hermitage.

Trails and Landscape

From Soria, Valdeavellano de Tera can be reached via two routes of approximately 28 and 34 kilometres, respectively. One approach follows the N-111 towards Logroño, then the regional road SO-820 to El Valle, and continues via Tera and Rollamienta to Valdeavellano de Tera. For planning purposes, the lengths of the two approaches can be considered separately.

The Valdeavellano–Villar route passes through the Vega de Valdeavellano, a large pasture with numerous cattle, and is considered very easy, with little difference in elevation.

To the higher-level travel overview: Soria.