Valbuena de Duero – Holiday apartment between monastery, wine and the Duero

Valbuena de Duero is home to the Cistercian monastery of Santa María de Valbuena, an important example of architectural craftsmanship: it is considered one of the purest examples of Cistercian architecture on the Iberian Peninsula. The surviving parts of the monastery complex date from the 12th and 13th centuries. Particularly impressive is the two-storey cloister, whose lower part dates from the 13th century and whose upper part dates from the 16th century.

Culture

The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Castillo also dates back a long way and has been documented since the 13th century. In the Chapel of Cristo de Miravalles, it houses a Gothic portal of the Cistercian type. On the west side there is also a Romanesque bell gable with a simple semicircular arch; the ensemble is complemented by a rose window from the 15th century.

Of Valbuena de Duero’s former walls, the Arco de acceso a la villa is the only surviving gateway. The Ermita de San Roque, built of stone in the 17th century, has a single-nave structure with a ribbed vault. On the outskirts lies the Barrio de Bodegas, with several traditional wine cellars dug into the hillside, all of which are privately owned.

Nature

Several paths provide access to the municipality, with different route lengths and means of transport. The Senda del Monte is 10 km long and can be covered on foot, by bicycle or in a motorised vehicle. The Senda del Río measures 4.4 km and can be walked or cycled. It begins in Valbuena de Duero and runs along the banks of the Duero to San Bernardo.

The Senda del Río forms part of the Rutas del Anillo del Duero. It is also integrated into the Camino Natural Senda del Duero and the GR 14, a long-distance hiking trail known as the Ruta del Duero that follows the course of the Duero from Duruelo de la Sierra to Porto. The Paseo de la Isla is 0.2 km long, takes about 5 minutes and can be reached on foot or by bicycle from the village square of Valbuena de Duero.

Within the municipality, the Sendero del Mirador is 1.1 km long and can be covered by bicycle or on foot. The path climbs gently to a natural viewing balcony with panoramic views over the Ribera del Duero. The Sendero de la Cascada del Cascarral is 2.2 km long and can only be walked; it connects El Mirador with the Senda del Monte via the Colada del Carrascal.

Valbuena de Duero’s natural landscape includes riverside and woodland areas. Among the vineyards grow, among other trees, several centuries-old holm oaks, junipers, tamarisks and pines. The village offers conditions with low light pollution for observing the night sky and lies away from large cities. Different route lengths, an approximate duration and several means of transport provide clear points of comparison for planning the day.

Wine

At the Museo Emina, visitors can explore the Centro de Interpretación del vino y del Duero with an audiovisual projection. As part of wine tourism in the Ribera del Duero, Bodegas Matarromera offers multilingual tours, wine tastings, a wine bar and a permanent shop.

The festivals of the village of Valbuena de Duero include Nuestra Señora de la Asunción and San Roque, which are celebrated in mid-August. The festivals of the Virgen del Rosario in Valbuena de Duero take place on the first Sunday in October. The celebrations of San Sebastián take place around 20 January.

Special traffic regulations have been established for the VP-3001 and VA-101 due to limited road capacity at the entrances to Valbuena de Duero and Pesquera de Duero.

Other places:Traspinedo, Aldeyuso, Canalejas de Peñafiel, Medina De Rioseco, La Parrilla, Villanueva de San Mancio, Arroyo De La Encomienda

To the higher-level travel overview: Valladolid.