Sigüenza: medieval tapas, donceles, ghosts and ... the shortest marriage in the history of Spain

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As a maiden and Sigüenza he had little, but the nobleman Martín Váquez de Arce, killed in an ambush during

has gone down in history with this nickname.

Badly done because, in other times,

maidens (male of maidens) were young men between 12 and 16 years old close to the nobility who had not known a woman.

And he had a wife, a daughter, and a quarter century when he died.

Nor is it very clear that he was born in the aforementioned

one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Spain, located less than an hour and a half from Madrid.

Some chronicles say that it was from here.

Others, no.

The streets of Sigüenza with the cathedral in the background SHUTTERSTOCK

Be that as it may, the culprit of the name is the author

who, when contemplating his

in the Cathedral of Sigüenza, could not avoid comparing it with that of the young maidens due to the delicate features of the recumbent statue. Earlier, the essayist

had described it as "the most beautiful funeral sculpture in the world."

Just to see it up close, it would be worth visiting this town in the

de Guadalajara of 4,300 inhabitants that, given its proximity, is presented as a perfect getaway from the capital.

But there is much more among its labyrinthine

of medieval court: palaces, museums such as the Diocesano del Arte Antiguo (with

and Francisco Madrazo), the Casa del Doncel, craft shops in which they dispense wine casks as well as mirrors. in gold leaf ...

The church of Santiago, headquarters of the Interpretation Center of Rural Romanesque.

Calle Mayor (specifically, number 9) hides a curious

The Middle Ages, which in addition to jewelry inspired by that time, tapestries, engravings, Celtic art,

or leather goods, also organizes workshops for the reproduction of medieval art and painting.

Medieval skewer based on cheeks with boletus and foie.

The gastro chapter is made up of more than

including two with Michelin stars, El Doncel and El Molino de Alcuneza (in the homonymous district).

Those in the Plaza Mayor are also worth a stop.

Not forgetting the

which has its own contest and offers

such as migas,

, roasts of lamb or kid, pickled game and drunk honey sweets.

Another essential

:

such as the truffles of the Poor Clare Sisters.

The most ephemeral marriage in Spain

The tour continues in the 12th century

, home of

.

Destroyed during the Civil War, it hides jewels such as an Andalusian watchtower, "whose remains were found in the latest

, as well as the 1.90-meter-high skeleton of the deacon Francisco de Villanuño," says Martín Nieto, restorer and volunteer of the Association of Friends of the temple.

Parador de Sigüenza parade ground.

It would be necessary to speak of the castle, converted into a Parador.

Not only does it offer one of the best views of the city, but it was the setting for

our history, that of Blanca de Borbón with

who broke the link

when he found out about that the King of France, his wife's uncle, would not pay the agreed dowry of 300,000 gold florins.

was disowned and confined in the castle.

Hence, according to locals and strangers, his ghost swarms the rooms on cold nights.

A route around

The time has come to know the surroundings of Sigüenza,

with small and pleasant villages surrounded by nature such as Carabias, Guijosa, Pelegrina or

This hides one of the

, Los Ánades, less than 25 minutes from Sigüenza.

Belonging to the select club of more than 200 charming accommodations in natural settings, Ruralka, the village in which it is located has only

making it ideal to disconnect.

Main building of the rural hotel Los Ánades.

Its restaurant, El Ánade Real, is designed for a

with its cuisine "made in a traditional way with top quality raw materials," says Mayte García, in charge of the day-to-day running of the establishment.

She recommends, for example,

the truffle soup (they have a menu focused on it) or the crispy duck confit.

"And the

or the roe deer sirloin in the wood oven," he adds.

Roe deer sirloin in pippin sauce.

For sleeping, they offer seven rooms, seven

two-story

. They also have a spa that is reserved exclusively for couples, in addition to organizing all kinds of activities and excursions in the area. That there are many. Not surprisingly, we are among the natural parks of

, perfect for hiking, rafting, ballooning, horseback riding or cycling, canyoning ...

In the first Natural Park is the viewpoint of

, a monument that pays tribute to the naturalist in

a few kilometers from Sigüenza.

In this area, the Burgos filmed various chapters of

countless times and always expressed his affection for him.

Rafting in the Alto Tajo Natural Park IN ALTO TAJO

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