Free walking tours in Cardeñosa and what to see

Must-sees

Cardeñosa is a small village in the Ávila area, about ten kilometres north of the city, in a landscape of granite, holm oaks and boulders. The visit revolves around the hillfort of Las Cogotas, one of the great sites of Vettonian culture. The hill was inhabited from the Bronze Age and in the Iron Age became a walled settlement, with two enclosures, a necropolis and a field of upright stones used as a defence. From the top you can see the Las Cogotas reservoir on the Adaja river.

In the village itself, the church of La Invención de la Santa Cruz is worth a stop, begun in the late 15th century and finished in the 16th in granite rubble. Its Way of the Cross runs from the church to the chapel of the Cristo. About two kilometres away are the remains of the Conejeros arch, the only standing part of the church of a medieval village that was abandoned.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no regular free tours in Cardeñosa. The Las Cogotas hillfort is free to visit, with an access path from the village, and Cardeñosa has an archaeology room explaining the site. To understand the Vettones properly, visit the Vettonian Hillforts Interpretation Centre in Ávila first. If you are staying in the city, the tourist office can tell you about guided visits around the province and how to combine Las Cogotas with other hillforts.

How long to spend

Half a day is enough: a couple of hours to climb to the hillfort and walk round the enclosures, and a little more for the church and the Conejeros arch. Ideally combine it with Ávila on the same day. If you are interested in archaeology, spend a second day on the Vettonian hillforts route, with Ulaca and La Mesa de Miranda. Wear comfortable shoes and take water, as there is hardly any shade on the hill.

Where to stay

Cardeñosa has the odd rural house, a good choice if you want silence and to get to the hillfort early. Choice is very limited, so book ahead. The natural alternative is Ávila, a quarter of an hour's drive away, with accommodation of every kind inside and outside the walls. Staying in the city lets you see Cardeñosa in the morning and stroll the historic centre in the afternoon.