Free walking tours in San Miguel de Bernuy and what to see

Must-sees

San Miguel de Bernuy is a small village in north-east Segovia, by the Duratón river, about 65 kilometres from the provincial capital. In the centre is the parish church of San Miguel, medieval in origin, which keeps some Romanesque features and holds a Baroque main altarpiece. On the riverbank is the hermitage of the Virgen del Río.

The surroundings are the big draw. The riverside poplar groves invite walks by the water, and an easy trail leads to the Las Vencías reservoir. Upstream begins the Hoces del Duratón Nature Park, a canyon of limestone walls where griffon vultures nest, with the Romanesque hermitage of San Frutos perched over the gorge. Sepúlveda, with its medieval houses and Romanesque churches, completes the visit.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no free walking tours in San Miguel de Bernuy. What's on offer are river activities: kayak hire to paddle between the cliffs of the Hoces del Duratón, with an option that adds a paella at a riverside bar afterwards. It's a relaxed way to see the canyon and its birds from the water. To see Sepúlveda or the San Frutos hermitage, people usually go on their own or ask at the park visitor centre.

How long to spend

The village takes an hour, with the church and a riverside walk. To make the most of it, spend a full day in the area: the morning kayaking or walking in the gorge and the afternoon in Sepúlveda. With a weekend you can add the trail to the Las Vencías reservoir and a visit to neighbouring Fuentidueña, with its walls and Romanesque church.

Where to stay

In and around the village there are rural houses and the odd riverside place to stay, ideal if you want silence and clear night skies. Fuentidueña is a few minutes away and also has rural houses. If you prefer more services and restaurants, Sepúlveda is the most practical base for the Hoces del Duratón.