Free walking tours in Espinosa de los Monteros and what to see

Must-sees

Espinosa de los Monteros is a town in Las Merindades, in northern Burgos, at the foot of the hills that separate it from Cantabria. Its name recalls the Monteros de Espinosa, local noblemen who for centuries were charged with guarding the sleep of the kings. That story is told in the Museo de los Monteros del Rey, which also devotes a room to the Battle of Espinosa, fought in 1808 against Napoleon's troops.

The town keeps a surprising number of towers and manor houses. The Torre de los Monteros, with battlements and corner turrets, the 15th-century Casa de los Cubos and the Torre de los Azulejos, with its Renaissance window, are among the most striking. Among the palaces, those of the Fernández Villa family and the Marqués de Chiloeches, with its coat-of-arms doorway, stand out. To the north open the Pasiego valleys and the Castro Valnera hills.

Free tours and guided visits

There's no fixed free walking tour in Espinosa, but there are several guided activities in the town and the area. There are guided visits of the historic ensemble and its towers, and excursions to nearby natural sites. The best known is Ojo Guareña, one of the largest cave systems in Spain, in the neighbouring Sotoscueva valley. There are also hikes in the Pasiego mountains.

How long to spend

Half a day is enough to explore the town and its towers and visit the museum. With a full day you can add Ojo Guareña. If you like the mountains, stay a weekend and spend the second day on a walk through the valleys towards Castro Valnera or visiting Medina de Pomar and other towns in Las Merindades.

Where to stay

Staying in Espinosa itself lets you stroll the old town once it empties and set off early for the mountains. There are rural houses and small places to stay both in the town and in its hamlets. If you want more choice, Medina de Pomar and Villarcayo are a short drive away and work well as a base for the whole area.