If there is a place in the northern area of Spain where nature never ceases to surprise us from the first moment is in this pretty village.
Although its name seems to indicate it, you will not find a castle here, although they say there must have been one in its day.
Nor an impressive church, nor museums, because here the monuments are made by wind and water.
With every step you take you will enjoy a natural landscape that surprises you from the moment you enter until the moment you leave.
Castle Orbaneja, In the Burgos province en Castilla y Leon is undoubtedly one of the most charming towns from the north of Spain, with beautiful corners of country architecture.
All the information in detail
Curiosities history of Orbaneja del Castillo
Orbaneja is immersed in a limestone cirque eroded by wind and water, in a so-called karst zone.
This beautiful town is located in the surprising natural area of Los Cañones del Ebro, on the geographical limit that separates Burgos and Cantabria.
It is a small town that you will not take long to explore, where you will find several grottoes and caves, and in which no more than 50 inhabitants reside in winter.
With its origin in Middle Ages, Mozarabs, Christians and Jews lived there for centuries, and the name of some of its streets remains as a reminder of this.
The Catholic kings They granted it the distinction of Villa and thus its inhabitants were exempt from paying taxes.
You reach Castle Orbaneja along a winding road that runs through the Páramo region in the Sedano Valley.
The best things to see and do in Orbaneja del Castillo
As soon as you arrive you are surprised by a small bridge, to the right of which you are impressed by the nice waterfall and to the left you will see some pools with crystal clear turquoise waters.
Orbaneja del Castillo waterfall
Bliss waterfall It has a drop of about 25 meters and is located in a privileged environment, surrounded by vegetation and mountain houses built on a slope.
La waterfall is born from the so-called Water Cave, which we will find going up towards the town along a path with steps next to the waterfall and which will take you to the center of the town.
The Pools in Orbaneja del Castillo
To the left of the bridge, the water current has formed some pools white rocky bottom, with a turquoise blue water and totally crystalline.
It is a land where there are many pools scattered around, some deep enough to be a place where many lovers of this sport come to practice scuba diving.
Once in the town, a large square is surprising, which is cut off by the current of water coming from the rock.
We can cross it via a small walkway and on both sides there are bars, restaurants and souvenir shops.
It is a recreational area for everyone who visits Orbaneja.
Throughout the year the town goes from having very few inhabitants to being a very popular place for visitors who arrive attracted both by the beauty of the surroundings and by the good food that is enjoyed.
Water Cave in Orbaneja del Castillo
En Orbaneja The layers of phreatic water filter through the rocks and emerge in the form of springs, which allows us to find different places where the water flows.
ORGANIZE your TRIP
- Don't forget your TRAVEL INSURANCE with a 5% discount
- Book the HOTEL for your trip
- RENT a CAR for your trip
- The best TOURS and EXCURSIONS in Spanish
- NO-LINE TICKETS for museums and monuments
- Best FREE TOURS around the world
- Book your TRANSFER from the airport
- eSIM card with INTERNET at the best price
These groundwater accumulate in the aquifers of the Bricia moor and they come out naturally through the Water Cave.
This cave is located overlooking the town, at the back of the same square and inside it you can walk for a long stretch and listen to the sound of water echoing against the walls.
It is a absolutely natural cave, in which you feel that sensation that the human hand has not yet intervened.
The water in its path has dissolved the calcareous rock and has been deposited on the mosses of the stream bed, thus forming a whitish calcareous crust.
In ancient times the flow of water moved the stones of some flour mills of which some remains are preserved.
Next to the cave and on a rocky cliff is the impregnable strong house of the Marquises of Aguilar.
Going up towards the upper area of the town we go through narrow streets that preserve the traditional architecture, with beautiful stone mansions y wooden balconies.
In a place known as The Eras of Orbaneja del Castillo, we find a series of stone huts.
They are constructions with a circular or square plan that served as a granary and a place to shelter from storms.
Orbaneja del Castillo rocky circus
From the highest area of this place the view is impressive.
In the shape of a circus, the eroded natural towers They form a rock wall shaped by wind erosion, the whims of air and water.
These cliffs allow us to see suggestive and different shapes such as the so-called Kiss of the Camels.
In the highest part of the town there is a hostel where, in addition to staying, you can taste a wonderful meal or just have a snack to enjoy admiring these beautiful views.
From here you can also do hiking trails in an environment dominated by nature.
In sum, Castle Orbaneja It is a whim of nature that is difficult to forget.
Map: how to get to Orbaneja del Castillo
Castle Orbaneja is one hour north of Burgos, on the border with Cantabria.
Typical conflict that usually occurs in beautiful places where the interest of neighbors who are not sympathetic to the party in preserving their peace collides with that of the Provincial Councils that, oblivious to everything, do their job of promoting tourism and massifying the areas; It's a real shame. We can see this a lot in Bizkaia, but actually in any inland tourism point. No one is to blame, except a little for the interests of some established businesses and some committed mayor or councilor. The worst part is borne by families with children who often come from distant places to suffer these disagreements whose cause must be sought in the way of being of this country.
Don't go on August 15 from 5 to 6 in the afternoon!!!!
The place is beautiful, but the behavior of many of its neighbors is frankly regrettable. On July 15, we decided to visit the town, without knowing it and without there being any warning sign, that for a few years now, on that date, from 5 to 6 in the afternoon, buckets of water are filled for everyone who visits. the town, the most unfortunate thing being that in that “party” they participate along with young vacationers, as well as a few adults.
After receiving a few buckets of water and being completely soaked, to our protests, the only thing we received was more water and the advice that if we didn't agree, we should talk to the mayor, that's how the party was and that's it. Oddly enough, this suggestion was made by an “adult” who was also in a bathing suit and with a bucket of water in his hand.
Result, an hour of waiting in a town alley, unable to leave, totally soaked, mobile phones miraculously alive and a feeling of harassment and humiliation of great care. At 6 o'clock we left the town with no intention of ever returning, and from there we had to drive 150 km to our place of origin with all our clothes and shoes completely wet. And like us, a couple from Santander and another Italian couple with a little girl who ended up drying all their clothes and passports in the sun.
As I said, a “stupid” party in which they have fun “attacking” the visitors. I would like to see the face of the village mayor if at some point he comes to see the Gugenheim or whatever and is greeted with 20 buckets of water, having to leave the city completely soaked. If they want to celebrate “their party,” let them do it, but in a limited, signposted area and let those of us who do not want to participate in it be left alone, among other things because while we visitors were dressed and with our cell phones and cameras , they were in bathing suits and flip flops. How nice…..
Promise, we will not return to that place!!!!!
There are lodgings in this town and can you go there with any public transport, bus or similar?