The walled complex of Fuentidueña had three entrance gates: Puerta Salidero, Puerta de la Calzada and Puerta de Trascastillo. The town’s attractions range from Romanesque churches and a neoclassical chapel to hiking and cycling routes. You can plan your stay around different interests: architectural history, hiking or cycling.
Gates, Churches and History
Fuentidueña was designated a Bien de Interés Cultural in 2007 for its historic townscape. Castillo de Fuentidueña was also protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural, together with the town walls. Features of the walls suggest that the castle was built in the 12th and 13th centuries.
Capilla del Pilar, also known as Capilla de los Condes de Montijo, is likewise protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural. It was completed in 1720 and is neoclassical. Iglesia de San Miguel is a Romanesque church and is also protected. The Romanesque church of San Martín was built in two phases: its tower and single-nave hall date from the 10th century, while the apse dates from the mid-12th century.
The history of Hospital de la Magdalena includes both its social purpose and its protected status. It was founded to care for the poor and sick of Fuentidueña and its Alfoz, and was designated a Bien de Interés Cultural on 18 May 1995. Around the church of San Martín lies the necropolis, with around two hundred anthropomorphic graves carved into the rock. They date from the 10th to the 17th century; this long time span sets them apart from the church’s construction phases.
Hiking and Cycling
The Ruta del Agua is 61 kilometres long and starts at the Salinero springs in Fuentidueña. It is of moderate difficulty and has a rolling profile. Other key figures given for the route are a maximum elevation of 1,192 metres and a positive gradient of 5.2 percent. These details give a specific sense of the cycling route’s character without conflating it with the shorter descriptions of the hiking trails.
The Sendero Embalse de las Vencías runs between Fuentidueña and San Miguel de Bernuy and can be started in either town. Check trail conditions before setting out. The trail to Cerro de San Blas is also of moderate difficulty; it leads to a rocky viewpoint above the Duratón. The two hikes therefore lead to different destinations, while the Ruta del Agua offers a separate, longer cycling option.
When looking for a hotel in Fuentidueña, your plans for the stay can help you choose: historic buildings, a hike or the 61-kilometre cycling route each suit different itineraries. Take the characteristics of each route into account when planning.
Springs, Tradition and Cuisine
Fuentidueña has almost thirty springs. In the El Salidero area, the de los Caños and de la Cigüeña springs join other springs to form the Río Fuentes. These names and waterways are a distinctive part of the local landscape, alongside the town’s buildings and trails.
A local tradition is the Chisquereta: a large celebratory bonfire lit in the church atrium on the eve of the Immaculate Conception. The cuisine also offers a taste of the town. Roast suckling pig is a well-known dish in Fuentidueña, prepared in the town’s wood-fired ovens.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Dehesa Mayor, Santo Domingo de Pirón, Villacastín, Duruelo, Zamarramala, Caballar, Sepúlveda, Castroserracín.
For the broader travel overview: Segovia.
