These haunting ruins on a rise above the RÃo Arlanza show traces of both Gothic and Romanesque elements but the sense of elegant abandonment is what remains with you after a visit. Begun as a hermitage in the 10th century, it grew over the following centuries to become one of the most important monasteries in Castilla. It was abandoned in 1835, when the state decommissioned many churches and monasteries across the country. It's along the quiet BU-905 between Covarrubias and Hortigüela.
Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¼´Ê±¿ª½±'s must-see attractions
23.56 MILES
This Unesco World Heritage–listed cathedral, once a former modest Romanesque church, is a masterpiece. Work began on a grander scale in 1221; remarkably,…
23.32 MILES
This exceptional museum just across the river from the old quarter is a marvellously told story of human evolution. The basement exhibitions on Atapuerca …
Colegiata de San Cosme y Damián
2.78 MILES
This evocative 15th-century Gothic church is home to Spain's oldest still-functioning church organ, and has a gloriously ostentatious altar, fronted by…
Castillo de Peñaranda de Duero
24.77 MILES
Lording over Peñaranda like an echo of more epic times, this elongated fortress is like an archetypal castle drawn by children with a forest of turrets…
AbadÃa de Santo Domingo de Silos
6.47 MILES
The cloister and museum of this revered monastery is a two-storey treasure chest of some of Spain's most imaginative Romanesque art. The overall effect is…
23.76 MILES
A 30-minute walk west of the city centre on the southern river bank, this monastery was once among the most prominent in Spain. Founded in 1187 by Eleanor…
29 MILES
This fine, early-13th-century hermitage has a wonderfully lonely aspect and showcases a fusion of styles between late Romanesque and early Gothic,…
22.24 MILES
Located in peaceful woodlands 4km east of the city centre, this monastery contains a trio of 15th-century masterworks by Gil de Siloé, the man responsible…
Nearby Castilla y León attractions
1. Colegiata de San Cosme y Damián
2.78 MILES
This evocative 15th-century Gothic church is home to Spain's oldest still-functioning church organ, and has a gloriously ostentatious altar, fronted by…
2.83 MILES
This squat 10th-century tower dominates the remains of the town's medieval walls. It's especially pretty as a backdrop to the river from outside the walls…
3. Ermita de Santa MarÃa de Lara
5.26 MILES
If you take the N234 southeast of Burgos, a worthwhile stop some 35km out is the 7th-century Ermita de Santa MarÃa de Lara, close to Quintanilla de las…
4. Museo Los Sonidos de la Tierra
6.37 MILES
This engaging museum showcases musical instruments, such as drums and lutes, from the region and from around the world.
5. BasÃlica de San Sebastián
6.45 MILES
Notable for its pleasingly unadorned Romanesque sanctuary dominated by a multidomed ceiling, this is where you can hear the monks chant vespers six times…
6. AbadÃa de Santo Domingo de Silos
6.47 MILES
The cloister and museum of this revered monastery is a two-storey treasure chest of some of Spain's most imaginative Romanesque art. The overall effect is…
6.84 MILES
A mere 1.3km down the back road (BU911) to Caleruega from Santo Domingo de Silos, the spectacular Desfiladero de Yecla, a splendid gorge of limestone…
8. Pasadizo del Duque de Lerma
14.95 MILES
The Pasadizo de Duque de Lerma is a restored 17th-century subterranean passage that connects the Palacio Ducal with the Iglesia Colegial de San Pedro…