This is the Route of Romanesque churches along the Duratón River (Segovia)

When thinking about an excursion through the towns in the province of Segovia, a good idea is to follow the course of the duraton river.

Sepúlveda and the Hoces del Río Duratón Natural Park, where the San Frutos sanctuary is located, are the best-known places, but there are other towns and monuments nearby that are well worth knowing.

Until the appearance of modern roads, rivers defined many of the communication routes. For this reason, planning a route following a river sometimes allows you to explore an area that in other times formed a unit.

It is known that the duraton river, which is only just over 100 kilometers long, is steeped in history.

Although born in Region of Madrid and joins the Douro river near Peñafiel, already in the Valladolid province, it can be said that most of its course passes through the Segovia province.

This eastern part of the Segovian lands had great importance during the Middle Ages, at the time of the reconquest. That is why it preserves many monuments from that time, especially from romantic style.

The idea of ​​searching for Romanesque monuments throughout the course of duraton river It's a good suggestion for a weekend excursion.

The natural landscapes of the Sickles of the Duratón River and the famous Sepúlveda steakhouses They are the perfect complement for a cultural visit after the historical monuments.

Being very close to the NI roads and the N-110 you can get to Sepúlveda very easily from many places.

For instance, Sepúlveda It is located 130 kilometers from Madrid, so the trip takes just over an hour and a half.

Route of Romanesque churches from Duratón to Fuentidueña

The route proposed in this route following the course of the Duratón river through the province of Segovia is the section included between the towns of Duratón and Fuentidueña.

The complete route, including the detour to the hermitage of San Frutos, it does not reach 60 kilometers.

Duratón in the province of Segovia

If we choose to follow the path of Duraton Downstream, the first stop is the town with the same name as the river.

Duraton It is a small town of just 30 inhabitants. In fact, it is part of the municipality of Sepúlveda, which is about seven kilometers away.

Romanesque church of Duratón

The treasure to discover in Duraton It is the beautiful Romanesque church of Our Lady of the Assumption, one of the most beautiful examples of the rural Romanesque of the province of Segovia.

The temple is located at the foot of a hill on the outskirts of the town.

It can be easily reached on foot by crossing the Duraton for romanesque bridge, which is now pedestrian, and can also be reached by car in a short detour, and there is a parking area next to the church.

The temple was built between the 12th and 13th centuries although it has later additions, such as the tower.

Located in a solitary spot, the church is very attractive, but the decoration of the capitals of the porticoed gallery stands out. Some of these capitals are very well preserved.

Next to the church there are some Visigothic sarcophagi. Here is one of the Visigothic necropolis largest on the Peninsula.

Sepúlveda in the province of Segovia

The best known place on this route is Sepúlveda. It is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful towns in the province of Segovia.

arrival at Sepúlveda, is very spectacular, with the houses on a steep slope and the complex surrounded by the sickles dug by the Duratón and Caslilla rivers.

The silhouette of the Romanesque church of the Savior dominates the panorama.

Although its origins date back much earlier, since the 8th century it became the center of a region whose lands reached several of the surrounding provinces.

Sepúlveda It is a perfect place to walk aimlessly and discover its corners little by little.

But, due to the steepness of some streets, it is advisable to wear good footwear.

El historic center is Plaza Mayor, typical Castilian square, with arcades and centuries-old houses.

The remains of the castle with an old belfry on the Town Hall They give it an authentic personality.

From the first moment we will begin to see the posters of the typical steakhouses that offer one of the best roast lamb of the entire province. For many, from all over Spain.

There are also some traditional pastry shops that are well worth a visit.

Church of the Savior in Sepúlveda

Among the places not to be missed, the aforementioned stands out church of the savior.

It is a romanesque church of a single ship. The apse is beautiful but the highlight is the porticoed gallery, the oldest known in the province.

From the church there are some beautiful views of the town of Sepúlveda and its surroundings.

Another romanesque church interesting is that of Our Lady of La Peña, but above all, Sepúlveda It stands out for the network of streets with contributed houses, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque mansions, as well as remains of the walls with their arches.

Hoces del Duratón in the province of Segovia

Right next to Sepúlveda starts the Hoces del Duratón Natural Park.

We recommend that before visiting it we pay a visit to the Casa del Parque, which is located in the historic center of Sepúlveda, in the old Romanesque church of Santiago, to obtain information.

You should know that to enter certain areas of the park, during some months of the year it is necessary to obtain a permit. This limits the number of visitors during the vulture breeding season.

The park is quite large since the duraton river Over time, it has excavated a series of gorges to create a canyon more than 20 kilometers long.

Part of this canyon is covered by the waters of the Burgomillodo reservoir and can be toured kayak excursions.

Hermitage of San Frutos in Hoces del Duratón

One of everyone's favorite places in the Hoces del Duratón is the hermitage of San Frutos.

This hermitage occupies an exceptional location, overlooking the precipices of Duratón.

To get there you have to go to Villaseca and then take a dirt track of about five kilometers. The track is suitable for any type of vehicle, but you have to drive very slowly.

From the parking lot at the end of the track there is a short walk to the hermitage, an area where there are very good viewpoints since the Duraton traces several meanders.

One of the attractions of the area is the abundance of vultures that fly over the sickles in large numbers, especially in the late afternoon.

saint fruits He was a hermit who secluded himself in this secluded place, and over time he acquired the reputation of a miracle worker. In the 11th century, a hermitage was built in his honor, which was later expanded with other rooms.

Fuentidueña in the province of Segovia

Fuentidueña is one of the little-known treasures of the province of Segovia.

Its houses extend on the slope of a hill crowned by a castle and surrounded by walls.

Some sections of the wall have battlements, which gives it a movie-like image.

In the upper part, the door of Alfonso VIII It opens directly onto an unpopulated area with cereal fields crossed by a dirt track.

If you entered this way, the image you would have of Fuentidueña would be from another time.

Romanesque churches in Fuentidueña

Fuentidueña had two Romanesque churches, San Martín and San Miguel.

Only the presbytery and the apse remained of the church of San Martín, but now not even that since the apse was sold in 1958 and is now in the Los Cloisters museum in New York.

The church of San Miguel is well restored. It is, like so many others in Segovia, a church with one nave and a porticoed gallery.

The capitals, corbels and metopes are decorated with reliefs with all kinds of scenes, from faces to mermaids and from sexual scenes to animal heads.