The Merindades

One of the regions of Castilla y León is The Merindades. Here the story places the historical origin of Castile, so we think it's a very interesting place to visit. Las Merindades is a Burgos region, is within Burgos, and its population does not have more than 21 thousand or so inhabitants.

Today, in Actualidad Viajes, Las Merindades and its tourist attractions.

The Merindades

As we said, it is a Burgos region in whose territory different landscapes are presented. We see the Cantabrian mountain range, the Ebro Valley and the Castilian plateau, so its landscapes are varied and so is its architecture, which has had to adapt to it.

The region It has cold and long winters and its summers are rather mild, typical of a climate that is more Atlantic than Mediterranean. It seems that the human population dates back to the Paleolithic but the Romans also passed through. The reconquest was led by Don Pelayo, from Asturias.

History says that the name Castilla appears for the first time in the XNUMXth century, referring to a place north of Merindad de Montija. The name also appears in the founding document of the Monastery of Taranco, in the Mena Valley. It seems that Castile was then referring to some territories north of the Ebro, with many buildings of a defensive nature.

The truth is that today There are more than 360 towns that make up Las Merindades and it is charming since, although there is tourism, massive and invasive tourism has not yet been recorded. But with so many places to see, which ones are the best?

Cold It is one of the most popular destinations and it is said of this town that It is the smallest city in Spain. It is built high up, on a hill, La Muela, crowned by the Velasco Castle. It is a charming place medieval, with a fortified bridge that crosses the Ebro, cobbled streets, an old Jewish quarter and little houses hanging over the void...

Cold It is 80 kilometers northeast of Burgos and it has always occupied an important place due to its crossing over the river. Its medieval core is Historic Artistic Set and as we said, one of its distinctive traces are the hanging houses, two or three stories high, forming the streets or sometimes hanging from the rock, with their structure of tuff and wood.

The best buildings to visit are the Salazar Palace, a barracks house with a shield with thirteen stars, today the headquarters of the Frías Tourist Office, the medieval bridge 143 meters long and nine arches, with a defensive tower, and the Roman road. There is also the Castle of the Dukes of Frías or of the Velascos, at the top of La Muela, the Church of San Vicente Mártir and San Sebastián, the Convent of San Francisco, from the XNUMXth century, the Convent of Santa María de Vadilo, the Church of San Vitores, the medieval laundry and the Jewish quarter.

A second town in Las Merindades can be Espinosa de los Monteros, a town founded in the Middle Ages and place where the body of the Monteros de espinosa, a body of the Spanish Royal Guard that initially guarded the dream of the Kings of Castile, back in the year 1006. Today the town lives off of livestock, agriculture and tourism. The Trueba River crosses the town.

In the town you can see churches, mansions, towers and palaces. Is the Velasco Tower, gothic and enormous, on the banks of the river, the Berrueza Tower, of the XNUMXth century, the Palace of the Fernández-Villa, Renaissance style, with two towers, the Tiled Tower, from the XNUMXth century, the Chiloeches Palace, that of the Marquises of the Cuevas de Velasco, that of the Marquis of Legarda, the Torre de los Monteros, the Cantinplor Tower and many typical houses. And of course, some churches. You cannot leave the town without visiting the Monteros del Rey Museum and if you arrive on certain dates you will have to enjoy some of their parties.

bridgedey It is a beautiful town that is built on a natural arch that has been embedded in the rock by the force of the Nela River. Puentedey or Bridge of God, is a charming place. You can visit its Romanesque style church, the Palacio de los Fernández de Brizuela, from the XNUMXth century, its typical houses, obviously the famous bridge, its footprint, since although there are natural bridges all over the world it seems that only here they have been built a town above...

bridgedey It has its treasures: the Church of San Pelayo, of mixed styles, the Casa Palacio de los Brizuela and, of course, the Santander-Mediterranean railway line with its tunnels and its picturesque bridges. Although it is already closed, today it is a greenway.

Medina de Pomar is an open-air museum, has wonderful architecture. composed of emblazoned houses and an imposing Alcázar of the Constables, known as LasTorres, where the Merindades Historical Museum operates today. The fortress dates back to the XNUMXth century and is built on the walled area. It has been a palace and defensive castle and has two quadrangular towers joined by a body. In that body is the large, enormous room, which was accessed by a spiral staircase.

In the south tower is the Noble Hall, with its Mudejar style frieze, today used for meetings or weddings and to house the municipal archive. The north tower, for its part, much simpler, formerly housed the servants or custody of the lords. The last restoration dates back to the '90s. Other buildings to visit are the sanctuary of Nuestra Señora del Salcinar y del Rosario, the Monastery of Santa Clara, the parish church of Santa Cruz, the Convent of San Pedro de la Misericordia, the Hermitage of San Millán, some arches and beautiful old houses .

In terms of museums you can learn about the Historical Museum of Merindades, inside the castle, the Romantic Museum, in the hermitage of San Millán, the Santa Clara Museum, inside the monastery, and of course its numerous local parties.

Other interesting towns to visit in Las Meridnades are Oña, very popular for having the wonderful Monastery of San Salvador de Oña, from the year 1011, with its beautiful baroque organ from 1768 and its vault and the royal pantheon where Sancho II El Fuerte and Sancho III El Mayor rest. And you can include in your path the Ojo Guarena cave, the most popular of the Merindades with 110 kilometers of tunnels, the fourth largest cave in the Iberian Peninsula, with 14 entrances and two entrances open to visitors: the Hermitage of San Bernabé and the Palomera Cave.

El Nervión waterfall, the highest waterfall on the peninsula, is another natural wonder. There are several viewpoints so you don't miss this 222-meter-high wonder. There is also the Monastery of Santa Maria de Rioseco, Cistercian, dating from the XNUMXth century and the hermitage of San Pedro de Tejada, at the foot of the Sierra de La Tesla, beautifully decorated…

So far, just some of the wonders or tourist attractions of Las Merindades. I hope they have attracted you enough to encourage you to schedule a trip, a getaway, and get to know them. More information in www.lasmerindades.com