Masa is a place where the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción and the Páramo de Masa plateau offer two distinct avenues of discovery. The village lies on the páramo at an altitude of 1,006 metres. The area is expansive, flat and cold. Visitors who choose Masa can explore the village’s architectural history and the features of the plateau together, without conflating the two subjects.

Landscape and nature on the Páramo de Masa

The Río Ubierna rises in the Páramo de Masa. Karst processes have formed dolines and uvalas in parts of the plateau. For travellers interested in geology, these landforms are a distinctive feature of the landscape. They add another geologically shaped dimension to the picture of a vast, flat plain.

The vegetation can also be described in specific terms: sparse scrub of heather, thyme and bearberry grows on the Páramo. There are also small stands of holm oak and Pyrenean oak. At the beginning of spring, a great variety of orchids can be seen on the plain. The Páramo is also a habitat for various steppe birds, including the spectacled warbler, calandra lark, lesser short-toed lark, little bustard and stone-curlew. Thus, plant life and steppe fauna are distinct natural features alongside the geological formations.

Routes towards Masa

On the “Tierras rojas y blancas” route, you reach Masa after passing through the Hoz de San Martín de Ubierna and crossing a mountain pass. One route crosses the Páramo de Masa area, climbs gently to a pass and then heads towards Masa.

Church and historical traces

The Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción stands in the heart of Masa and remains an active place of worship. If you would like to visit the church as a tourist attraction, check in advance what visiting options are available. The main nave is Gothic; its polygonal apse and buttresses date from the 14th and 15th centuries. A side aisle with a square apse was added between the 16th and 17th centuries.

The Renaissance high altar is also part of the church’s history: it dates from the 16th century and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. A historic clock has also been preserved in the church. Looking at the building, you can distinguish several aspects: the Gothic design of the main nave, the later addition of the side aisle, and the furnishings, including the altar and clock.

Another historical trace is the surviving house where General Wellington stayed overnight on his return after the Battle of Arapiles. Alongside the church, the village therefore has both a tangible link to architectural history and a recorded connection to a historical event.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Quintana Del Puente, La Puebla De Arganzón, Agüera, Cebolleros, Cadiñanos, Loma De Montija, Los Altos, Villalbilla de Burgos.

For the main travel overview: Burgos.