To the northwest of the province of Burgos, the Ebro and Rudrón rivers have been drilling this corner of Castilla y León for millennia and drawing a spectacular landscape of steep canyons, valleys embedded between steep gorges, lakes, springs and waterfalls.
All this forms a protected natural space, that of the Hoces del Alto Ebro y Rudrón Natural Park, of 46,373 hectares, which also houses a great biodiversity of flora and fauna and multiple and valuable geological and geomorphological attractions.
We show five reasons to escape to this place for a weekend and discover all its charms.
Natural heritage
Throughout the Natural Park there are many must-see places. Among them are
the viewpoint of the Ebro Canyon
, considered one of the most beautiful corners of Spain. It is less than two kilometers from the fishing village of Ebro. Although there are more viewpoints, it is easily accessible by car (there is parking). The views from this balcony over the river and the rest of the place are magnificent. About 500 m outside Covanera is
El Pozo Azul
, a spring that pours its crystalline waters into the Rudrón River. It is a small pond, but with considerable flow, where many residents go to bathe in summer. It is one of the most visited corners of the Rudrón Valley and a paradise for lovers of cave diving, since there is a cave that submerges under water and can be accessed by diving.
Ebro River Canyon Viewpoint.
Another essential stop is
the Fuente de Orbaneja
, a spectacular spring that forms a waterfall that runs through part of the town of Orbaneja del Castillo until it falls on the waters of the Ebro. On the other side of the river, La
Choza de Piedra
, is an architectural construction popular that served both to mitigate the summer heat and the winter cold.
It can be reached by car and, from there, the views are incredible.
Charming towns
The towns that dot the Hoces del Alto Ebro and Rudrón Natural Park have an immense monumental and cultural heritage that is worth discovering. Among them, the aforementioned
Pesquera de Ebro stands out
, famous for its manor houses of limestone ashlar masonry with arches at their entrances and superb noble coats of arms on the facades, from the 16th and 17th centuries. It is located on the banks of a meander of the Ebro, and to cross to the other side of the river, it is necessary to cross a medieval bridge that leads to the hermitage of San Antonio. The church of San Esteban also requires a stop. Another must-see town is
Escalada
, a riverside town founded in the 9th century by the Castilian counts to repopulate this area.
It has several manor houses, such as the Torre de los Gallos, a small castle considered a National Monument.
At the top of the town, the church of Santa María la Mayor preserves some Romanesque elements.
Orbaneja.Miguel Ángel Muñoz.
Narrow streets and stone houses with red gabled roofs characterize picturesque
Valdelateja
. In a beautiful area of cuttings on the outskirts the Rudrón River and the Ebro meet. There are several viewpoints to observe this postcard landscape. The town is crowned by a pre-Romanesque hermitage dedicated to Saints Elena and Céntola. About 13 km away is
Sedano
, anchored in the valley of the same name that captivated Miguel de Delibes himself. There, the writer built a house to spend the summers and his memories were captured in some of his books, such as
Pegar la thread
or
The disputed vote of Señor Cayo.
, set in neighboring Cortiguera.
In addition to golden stone mansions with noble coats of arms, the town, considered a Historic Site, has a small medieval necropolis.
Hiking routes
The options for exploring the area on foot or by bike are enormous.
Dozens of signposted paths connect the viewpoints, the towns and the most beautiful places of the Hoces del Alto Ebro and Rudrón.
There are them for all tastes: shorter or longer, linear or circular, of varying difficulty.
One of the most spectacular is the
Rudrón River Gorge
, a linear route of 9 km (about 3 hours) that starts from Hoyos del Tozo and ends in Moradillo del Castillo.
It runs parallel at all times along the left bank of the Rudrón along a winding path full of vegetation.
Ebro river canyon.
The
Ebro Canyon route
, between Valdelateja and Orbaneja del Castillo, is a 17 km circular path that offers some of the most beautiful views of the gorge and allows you to appreciate the biological and botanical diversity of this territory.
It starts at the church of Valdelateja and along a signposted path enters the Canyon.
You have to walk through the gorge until you reach a footbridge through which you have to cross the Ebro river. After passing through the historic El Porvenir hydroelectric power station and lush forests, you reach the town of Pesquera de Ebro. You have to cross the medieval bridge of the town above the Ebro again to follow a perfectly signposted path that passes through the abandoned town of Cortiguera and parallel to the upper rim of the canyon, you reach Valdelateja again.
This same route can be done by canoe.
The Biodiversity
The rocky walls that enclose the valleys and rivers are the preferred habitat of an abundant community of rock birds, so the presence of griffon vultures, golden eagles, Bonelli's, eagle owls, Egyptian vultures or peregrine falcons is guaranteed.
It is therefore an ideal place for lovers of ornithology, who will be able to see, with luck, up to 170 species of birds.
The natural enclave is home to various ecosystems, including its magnificent riverbanks, well-preserved holm oak, beech, juniper and some wetlands.
River crayfish, trout, vermilion and some otters populate the rivers.
The petroleum museum
On June 6, 1964, the discovery of an oil field occurs in Ayoluengo, a tiny town belonging to the municipality of Sargentes de la Lora.
It was a historic milestone, as it was the first time oil had flowed out of the ground in Spain.
Its commercial exploitation started years later and it was active for five decades, until its closure in 2017.
Las Loras Geopark, Arroyo de Los Ordejones.
The Petroleum Museum
, in Sargentes de la Lora, unique in Spain, recalls this history and, at the same time, delves into different aspects of black gold, such as its geology, its industry or derivatives.
It also functions as one of the interpretive centers of the Las Loras Geopark that occupies part of the space of the Hoces de los Ebro and Rudrón rivers natural park (entrance fee: 2.50 euros;
online
reservation
).
Where to sleep
Hotel Rural La Puebla
(Calle de la Iglesia, 37, Orbaneja del Castillo, Burgos).
Rustic hotel with bar and restaurant in Orbaneja del Castillo and surrounded by a beautiful natural environment.
Rooms have free Wi-Fi and balconies with mountain and river views.
El Abrigaño del Cañón
(Mayor, 1. Pesquera de Ebro, Burgos).
In the natural park of Las Hoces del Alto Ebro, in the small town of Pesquera de Ebro, this set of rural houses has all the comforts (free Wi-Fi connection and free private parking).
Each one has three or five bedrooms, from which you can enjoy unbeatable views of the mountains.
Price: 220 euros / night / three bedroom house.
Where to eat
The
Mesón Valdelateja
(Maestro Santidrian, 15, Valdelateja) is located in a beautiful place next to the river.
It is perfect to have a drink on the terrace with magnificent views or in the dining room, where homemade dishes are served, such as croquettes, Riojan cod or free-range chicken.
Traditional homemade food to have a menu or portions at
El Mesón del Cañón
(Calle Mayor, 5, Pesquera de Ebro).
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