In the upper part of Cuéllar’s historic centre stands the Castillo-Palacio de los Duques de Alburquerque. The complex was declared a National Monument of Artistic Interest in 1931. The castle-palace complex, the city walls, and Cuéllar’s civil and religious Mudéjar architecture offer different ways to explore the town’s history: from fortifications and medieval architecture to local traditions.

City walls as a two-part complex

The walled complex consists of two sections: an upper, more heavily fortified one and a lower one with a more urban character. Both have an outer wall, and together they are about 2,000 m long. Their different functions make the layout of the complex easier to understand, without treating the walls as a single continuous section.

The southern section of the walls has a free walkway with panoramic views of Cuéllar and the comarca. The views take in not only the fortifications themselves, but also the town and its surrounding area.

Mudéjar architecture and medieval history

Cuéllar preserves civil and religious Mudéjar architecture from the 12th and 13th centuries. The Iglesia de San Martín houses the Centro de Interpretación del Arte Mudéjar. Its audiovisual visit explores Cuéllar’s medieval history and Mudéjar art. The town’s buildings and the historical context of this architecture thus offer two distinct cultural themes.

Archive and Jewish Quarter

The archive of the Casa Ducal de Alburquerque is one of Spain’s most important noble archives. Its documents span the period from the 12th century to 1994, covering a long stretch of history. The archive is of interest not only for its collections: a tour led by the archivist and a guided walk through Cuéllar’s Jewish Quarter are also available.

Advance booking is essential for both activities. If you would like to include them in your stay, be sure to book in advance. The archive visit and the walk through the Jewish Quarter are two separate guided activities.

Encierros and local traditions

During the Encierros de Cuéllar, the route runs for about 5 km through the pine forests. The urban race then covers approximately 1.5 km on a town-centre circuit. These two approximate distances refer to separate sections: first the route through the forest, then the circuit in the urban area.

Las Chuletas takes place on the Sunday after Easter Sunday. Families from Cuéllar gather in the pine forests, light fires and eat chops. The day is accompanied by a cycling race known as the Clásica de la Chuleta. The set date, gathering in the forest and cycling race give this local tradition its distinctive character.

Walking and getting there

Locals and visitors alike use the Huerta del Duque for walking, relaxing, exercising and eating outdoors. The activities here differ from those centred on the historic buildings and guided tours.

By car, you can reach the Castillo-Palacio via the Autovía de Pinares A-601, exit 50 “Cuéllar Norte”. LINECAR’s regular Segovia–Valladolid bus service passes through Cuéllar. If you are travelling by bus, check the timetable for your travel date before finalising your journey.

When looking for a hotel in Cuéllar, you can plan your travel dates around the topics that interest you most, such as Mudéjar architecture, the city walls, the archive or a local tradition. Remember that advance booking is required for the archive tour and the walk through the Jewish Quarter.

Discover more destinations: La Velilla, Castroserna De Abajo, Aguilafuente, Tolocirio, Nava De La Asunción, San Miguel de Bernúy, Pedraza, Fuentepelayo.

Go to the main travel overview: Segovia.