Free walking tours in Maderuelo and what to see

Must-sees

Maderuelo is a medieval town in north-east Segovia, stretched along a hill overlooking the Linares del Arroyo reservoir. You enter through the Arco de la Villa, the western gate in the walls, which still keeps its wooden doors with 15th-century ironwork. Inside, the main street runs through the village from end to end, between stone houses.

The church of Santa María del Castillo is the only one in the province with remains in the caliphal style, and San Miguel keeps its old Romanesque tower. Across the water is the hermitage of the Vera Cruz, of Templar origin, whose Romanesque paintings were moved to the Prado Museum when the reservoir was built. In summers when the water level drops, the old five-arched bridge appears. Maderuelo is part of the Hoces del Riaza Nature Park, with its griffon vulture colonies.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no regular free walking tours in Maderuelo. On some dates there are costumed tours of the town covering its history and heritage, and the park visitor centre in Montejo de la Vega has information on routes through the Hoces del Riaza. Otherwise, the usual way is to explore the village on your own, as it's small and easy to see.

How long to spend

Two or three hours are enough to walk the town from end to end and take in the viewpoints. With a full day you can add the Vera Cruz hermitage and the path leaving the village along the reservoir. If you want to hike in the Hoces del Riaza, set aside a second day.

Where to stay

The best option is to sleep inside the town, in one of its rural houses, to enjoy the village once the visitors leave and watch the sunset over the reservoir. Accommodation is limited, so book early. Nearby alternatives are Ayllón, Riaza and Sepúlveda, with more places to stay and a good base for the area.