Íscar: Holiday Apartments Between Páramos, Fortress and Pine Forests

Íscar lies at the foot of a spur of the limestone páramos, on which its old fortress stands. From this elevated position, you can look out over a plain dominated by pine forests, crossed by the Cega, Pirón and Eresma rivers.

Landscape and Trails

On the banks of the Pirón lies Parque de la Ermita de Cristo Rey, a recreational area of more than 25 hectares in the municipality’s pine forests. The Senda del Páramo y Cuestas de Íscar runs through Íscar’s natural surroundings as a guided, prepared trail with explanatory information.

The approximately 8-kilometre circular PRC-VA 38 Senda de la Resina starts at the Área Recreativa de Puente Blanca recreational area in the municipality of Íscar and returns there; its wide, well-marked, almost level paths present no technical difficulties. The 12-kilometre Senda Real de Merinas is also a circular route: it starts in the Puente Blanca area and heads towards Villaverde de Íscar in the province of Segovia. The Camino Verde is open to pedestrians and cyclists. The different lengths, trail types and route formats can be compared directly.

Culture and History

The Iglesia de Santa María de los Mártires preserves the apse of an original Mudéjar church, incorporated into a later building with 16th-century work and 18th-century alterations. The Castillo de Íscar was extensively reinforced for defensive purposes in the second half of the 15th century and acquired a fortified structure with a barbican, drawbridge, small artillery fortification and round towers. Tours of the Torre del Homenaje are scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays at 12:50 p.m.

Puente Blanca is a two-arched limestone bridge over the Pirón and may date from the 15th or 16th century. The traditional woodworking craft included doors, windows, stools, benches, chests and rope-strung wooden beds; the manufacture of the latter in particular was considered typical of Íscar.

The Museo Mariemma preserves more than 150 pieces from the artistic estate of the dancer and choreographer Mariemma, including costumes, figurines and castanets. During guided tours with live performances, four forms of Spanish dance are explained there.

Festivals and Flavours

Íscar celebrates its patron saint’s feast in honour of Santa María de los Mártires on 13 May and the feast in honour of San Miguel Arcángel on 29 September. At the feast in honour of the martyrs, the Quintos wear white embroidered scarves; local mothers, partners and embroiderers decorate them with colourful floral motifs as an offering to the saint.

On Easter Monday, the Parque de la Ermita de Cristo Rey hosts a rural spring festival with Mass, a procession and the dance of the Jota de Íscar around the image of Christ. The feast of Santa María de los Mártires traditionally includes garlands made of branches as the main decorative element outside the church.

Traditional dishes and confectionery include Empiñonados, Bollos de baño, Rosquillas Ciegas and the Hornazo, especially popular at Easter, a bread pie filled with a piece of pork loin and chorizo.

When searching for a holiday apartment in Íscar, you can first compare travel dates, room category and cancellation policies on the respective accommodation pages; you can then calmly compare the information relevant to your trip using the same criteria.

More places: Quintanilla De Onésimo, Puras, Valoria La Buena, Castroverde De Cerrato, Nava Del Rey, Mojados, Valbuena De Duero, Vega De Valdetronco

To the higher-level travel overview: Valladolid.