Section 13 - Castile and León

Palencia - Valladolid - 51Km

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We’ll cycle from Palencia to Villamuriel de Cerrato until reaching the triple lock located in Soto Alburez, where we’ll find the two styles of lock, oval and rectangular.

The next town is Dueñas, a must for sightseeing. Declared ‘Historic Artistic Ensemble’ in 1967, it features narrow, steep streets that conserve traditional half-timbered houses. In addition, it boasts four bodega districts where you can visit a cave house.

We’ll continue to enjoy the beauty of the locks and the charming bridges that we find along the way. These bridges also make it possible for us to visit towns along the canal. For example, almost 8 km from the start of the route, we’ll find lock no. 39 and the bridge leading to Trigueros del Valle, Cubillas de Santa Marta and Valoria La Buena.

The itinerary crosses the Cigales Wine Route, so from Dueñas to Cigales, you can visit interesting age-old wineries in these towns and enjoy the wine from the designation of origin, also known as ‘the wine of the canal’, as its waters irrigate the vineyards of several wineries. If you’re travelling with your family, don’t miss the Haunted Castle in Trigueros del Valle, a magical and original place with very special inhabitants.

Following the itinerary, before arriving at Cabezón de Pisuerga, on the Palazuelos Bridge, we recommend taking a little detour to visit the Monastery of Santa María de Palazuelos, seat of the Cistercian Order in the 16th century.

The Pisuerga River and the Canal are almost parallel to one another, so you can see groves and habitats where all kinds of birds and flora abound.

We arrive in Valladolid, which was the capital of the kingdom from 1601 to 1606 and the witness of important historical events such as the coronation of Ferdinand III as King of Castilla, the wedding of the Catholic Monarchs, and the death of Christopher Columbus. Valladolid is associated with great writers, such as Cervantes, Zorrilla and Miguel Delibes.

Discover its important artistic legacy by visiting buildings such as the Cathedral, the Church of La Antigua, San Pablo, San Benito, the University, and the Plaza Mayor. It also has magnificent museums such as the National Sculpture Museum, which treasures one of Europe’s best collections of polychrome sculpture.

Points of Interest

Heritage: 8

Palencia. Church of San Miguel

The current church of 13th-century origin is located in the former Jewish quarter and was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest in 1931. Its original fretwork tower is transitional to Gothic and is both religious and military in nature; it is a symbol of the city owing to its beauty and its privileged location along the river.

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Palencia. Calle Mayor

The main artery of Palencia contains the main social and business activities of the city. Its arcade gives personality to a pedestrian treet which is ideal for strolling and observing the variety of buildings of different styles and periods, from convents and mansions to modernist buildings.
Palencia. Christ of El Otero

Built on a hill with a magnificent panoramic view, this colossal figure of 20 m in height was erected in 1931 and is the work of the Palencia artist Victorio Macho. At its feet in the Chapel of Santa María de Otero lie the remains of the sculptor in accordance with his wishes. The Chapel also contains an Interpretation Centre which illustrates his life and works.

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Palencia. Puente Mayor

We can follow an interesting route along the course of the River Carrión where we can enjoy the magnificent bridges which cross it. Puentecillas is of Roman origin with alterations made in the medieval period and has been declared a Site of Cultural Interest as it is the most emblematic. It is one of the symbols of the city together with the Iron Bridge and the bridge known as the Puente Mayor.
Palencia. Diocesan Museum

This museum is located in the Palacio Episcopal, an 18th-century neoclassical building; its exhibits include paintings by Pedro Berruguete, Juan de Flandes, Andrea del Sarto, and Zurbarán, Romanesque sculpture of the 12th and 13th centuries, and carvings by Alejo de Vahía. The altarpiece of the Virgin, which is attributed to Diego de Siloé, stands out.

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Villamuriel de Cerrato. Church of Santa María la Mayor

This former Cistercian Templar monastery has both Romanesque and Gothic elements. It may have been built in the early 13th century. The church is defensive in nature like that of Valbuena with its three small towers, which may have been battlemented in former times. One rises above the buttress of the north nave of the transept and the other two above the front wall of the central chapel as a watchtower looking towards the Vega del Carrión.

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Dueñas. Monasterio de San Isidro

It dates back to the 10th century; the original Visigothic establishment joined the Cluny Order under the aegis of Alfonso VI from 1060 to 1075. Its foundation has been established as having occurred during the reign of Alfonso III the Great (866-910). The church has three naves with a transept and three apses separated by cruciform pillars without columns, and the doorway is Romanesque. The oldest part is that of the gable end entrance and the rectangular turret which still survive, although the capitals recall Frómista and Silos. It is inhabited by the well known Trappist monks of Palencia and is 13 kilometres from that city, very near the confluence of the Rivers Carrión and Pisuerga. During mass the Gregorian chant can be heard.
Fuensaldaña. Castle

The castle of Fuensaldaña belongs to the so-called Valladolid School which arose in the second half of the 15th century with a series of constructions characterised by having a square ground plan and above all a large keep. Its construction was initiated in the 13th century but its current appearance dates from the 15th century when the castle was the stately home of the Vivero family. It has circular towers on its corners and on one of its walls a large rectangular keep, the square ground plan of which stands out on the parade ground.

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Nature: 1

Tierra de Campos

Astride the provinces of Palencia, Valladolid, Zamora, and León, the Tierra de Campos is one of the most emblematic districts of Castilla y León. It is considered an example of the extensive plains of the northern plateau which are green in spring, ochre in autumn, white in winter, and golden in summer. It has been one of the main cereal districts of Spain since the Roman Hispania. As a result it is known as "the granary of Spain". It contains the largest concentrations of great bustards in the world. The wetlands of the Laguna de la Nava (Palencia province) and the Lagunas de Villafáfila (Zamora province) are key bird migration spots.

Gastronomy and wine: 1

Cigales Wine Route

The EuroVelo 1 itinerary from Dueñas in Palencia province to Fuensaldaña in Valladolid province is part of the Cigales Wine Route. It has been linked to the Canal de Castilla ever since the latter was built in the 18th century. This route is steeped in the history of the Catholic Monarchs, Philip II, and Napoleon Bonaparte. Don't miss its monasteries where for centuries wine was produced and consumed, such as that of San Isidro de Dueñas, the Castle of Fuensaldaña, the Enchanted Castle of Trigueros del Valle, and the Church of Cigales which is known as the "Cathedral of Wine". Its gastronomy based on local products is another of its charms.

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