Quintanilla del Agua lies on the middle reaches of the Arlanza River, in the valley of the same name. The village is located between Lerma and Covarrubias on the BU-904; Territorio Artlanza is also here. This offers a clear starting point for a cultural stay: alongside the reconstructed village, the Romanesque church, traditional houses, a medieval spring, and traces of winemaking represent different aspects of the village’s history.
A Castilian village at a scale of 1:1
Using recycled materials, Territorio Artlanza recreates a Castilian village at a scale of 1:1. The period represented spans from the Middle Ages to the last century; the site includes around fifteen themed museums. The scale refers to a life-size reconstruction, not a miniature model. Its historical scope is also broad: the site covers several centuries, while the museums each focus on particular themes.
This sets Territorio Artlanza apart from the village’s own historical features: the focus here is on a unified reconstruction, alongside individual buildings, homes, and a spring. These approaches make it easy to distinguish between cultural and historical points of interest: the reconstructed village as a whole, and the village’s history as seen through specific architecture and other local features.
Architecture and local history
The Iglesia de la Natividad de Nuestra Señora was first built in the Romanesque style in the 11th or 12th century. The traditional houses feature a different type of construction: they are made of adobe with juniper-wood framing. Some have enclosed balconies that project outward. While the church is identified by its style and period of construction, the materials and building forms give the houses their architectural character.
In the village center is the medieval Fuente Lugar, a cube-shaped spring that supplies water to nearby gardens. Local architecture and history thus extend from the Romanesque church and traditional homes to a spring whose water benefits the gardens. The spring also offers a different perspective from the individual buildings: it is identified as a specific place in the center and is linked to the gardens’ water supply.
Winemaking and community tradition
In the northern part of the village, in the San Roque area, there are hundreds of wine cellars dug into the ground, wine presses, and rest areas. These features illustrate Quintanilla del Agua’s centuries-old winemaking heritage. Unlike the single Fuente Lugar, the focus here is on numerous facilities in a particular area. The two therefore represent different spatial scales: the spring in the village center and the winemaking heritage in the San Roque area.
The Belén Viviente is a community performance depicting Castilian life in the 1950s, with scenes along the village streets and the participation of the entire community. While Territorio Artlanza covers a broad historical span from the Middle Ages to the last century, the Belén Viviente focuses on a single decade. If you’d like to include this event in your travel plans, check the dates in advance, as the schedule may vary.
Discover more destinations: Cilleruelo de Bezana, Pedrosa de Valdeporres, AgĂĽera, Remolino, Guzmán, Rublacedo De Abajo, Arroyal and FrĂas.
For the broader travel overview: Burgos.
