I have written quite a bit on this region in my blog and glad to have found me more pictures in my cd rom vaults that should be in my blog for you and me. This is a small village on the off the beaten path of my dear Spain but oh so wonderful to visit for its history and architecture, Therefore, here is my take on this is Sepùlveda !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The village of Sepúlveda is located in the province of Segovia, in the autonomous community of Castilla y León, and in the kingdom of Spain. The village has a population of 979 inhabitants (INE 2025). Sepúlveda belongs to the Community of Villa y Tierra de Sepúlveda (a Castilian political institution of medieval origin). It is 58 km from Segovia, 138 km from Burgos, 124 km from Madrid (via the A-1 autovia), and 115 km from Valladolid. We came by it from Madrid on our road warrior trails going to our home rental house before and near Valladolid ; first taking the inner beltway M30 of Madrid to connect with the A1 or Autovia del Norte or E5 dir Burgos (we followed many times dir France) at exit/salida 100 to connect with the N1a dir Cuéllar continue bearing left onto the SG205 still dir Cuéllar ,before bear right onto the SG-V-2344 road dir Sepùlveda cross City center past Plaza de España to Calle de la Barbacana continue into Calle Santos Justo y Pastor bear right onto Calle Comandante Cristobal to Plaza del Castron and the church, Mind you these in City are narrow streets so need a small to medium car,
The Church of Our Lady the Virgin of the Rock or Iglesia Nuestra Señora La Virgen de la Peña is a 12C Romanesque church. The church has a single nave, articulated by the transverse arches that divide it into four sections with barrel vaults. There are two entrances, one at the foot of the church and another in the south wall, to which a porticoed gallery and a portico are attached. The rectangular portico is structured by three arches: an outer one forming the semicircular entrance arch and two pointed inner arches on either side. The entire space is covered with a ribbed vault. The tower rises next to the nave. Romanesque churches are characterized by the integration of different arts, with sculpture and painting directly dependent on the architecture. At the rear of the church is a viewpoint from which one can enjoy the view of the first gorges of the Duratón River.
The Church of Our Lady the Virgin of the Rock portal separates the profane exterior from the sacred world. The tympanum is one of the jewels of this church, not only for its rarity in Segovian Romanesque architecture , but also for its subject matter and style, which clearly show connections to Aragonese Romanesque art. The apocalyptic Christ the Judge occupies the center of the semicircle, surrounded by an angular mandorla , flanked by the tetramorph (symbol of the Evangelists) and six adoring angels with scrolls. All of this is supported by the lintel, in the center of which, aligned with Christ, is the Chi-Rho monogram, held by two angels, and, on either side, Christ battles the dragon and the burden of souls. It is the plastic embodiment of the apocalyptic vision of Saint John.
The niche, accessed through a door that forms part of the altarpiece, one of the most original creations of the Spanish Baroque, emerged as a space dedicated exclusively to the veneration of a single image. The main altarpiece, an 18C Baroque altarpiece, is a niche altarpiece, a genuine creation of Spanish Baroque art. An artistic iron railing separates the main altar from the nave. The two most important works preserved inside this church are: the image of the Virgin of La Peña, patron saint of Sepúlveda and its surrounding village, made of polychrome wood in the late 13C, being the oldest and most devotionally important, located in the central niche of the altarpiece; and the sculpture of Christ Crucified, from the first half of the 14C, located in the altarpiece of the nave.
Other things to see here with more time are the Fernán González Castle ,was originally a Roman fortress, an Arab citadel, and was rebuilt during the time of Count Fernán González. An 18C castle with a continuous balcony, attached to the lower part of its towers, supports the clock in the town square. The former Sepúlveda prison. Of its three floors, the lower and upper floors were always used as a prison, while the middle floor has undergone the most modifications and uses. It served as the City/Town Hall until a new town hall was built across the square in 1870, after which it became the prison warden’s residence. In 2014, it was converted into an educational museum showcasing the uses and lifestyles of this type of prison. The town’s Tourist Office is now located there. The Casa del Conde de Sepúlveda is one of the town’s many palatial homes. The Casa de los Proaño popularly known as the Casa del Moro (House of the Moor), is also a palatial home. Its Plateresque façade is noteworthy, with a pediment surmounted by the head of a Moor on a scimitar, alluding to the legendary capture of Sepúlveda by Count Fernán González. The Romanesque Church of San Salvador, dating from the 11-12C, is located in the highest part of the town. Its construction, begun in 1093, indicates that it is the oldest church in the province of Segovia and one of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture in Sepúlveda. The Church of San Justo, currently home to the Museum of the Fueros (charters of rights), is also Romanesque, dating from the 12-13C.
A bit of history I like tell us the village of Sepúlveda is first mentioned in the Chronicle of Alfonso III. In 940, Fernán González, Count of Castile, was commissioned to repopulate it, establishing a Christian settlement beyond the Duero River. In 979, Almanzor attempted to recapture the town without success, but years later, in 984, he would recover it. However, the Castilians lost it again in 984 and 986. In 1010, the village definitively passed into Christian hands when it was captured by Sancho García, grandson of Fernán González. The charter of Sepúlveda was confirmed on several occasions. The oldest documentary evidence is the Latin charter of Alfonso VI from 1076. The territory in which the charter was in force was not only the town of Sepúlveda and its surrounding area, but extended into what was defined as the Community of Villa y Tierra de Sepúlveda or Town and Land of Sepúlveda, which still exists today. This community encompasses 37 towns/villages. In 1111, the Battle of Candespina (now Fresno de Cantespino) took place in the lands of Sepúlveda, in which Alfonso I of Aragon and Count Henry of Portugal confronted and defeated Queen Urraca, wife of Alfonso I of Aragon. This victory resulted in the independence of Portugal and the incorporation of Sepúlveda into the Crown of Aragon. King Carlos III visited the town in the 18C, presenting its town council with a portrait of his son, Carlos IV, at the age of seventeen. This portrait is displayed in the council chamber of the town hall.
During the Peninsular War (locally war of Independance), the Battle of Sepúlveda took place, the only engagement in which Napoleon’s Imperial Guard participated during the entire war. This action resulted in a defeat for the French forces, who were unable to destroy the Spanish troops. The Spanish first retreated towards Sepúlveda and then, unmolested, towards Segovia. In the Carlist Wars, Sepúlveda was captured in 1838 by General Gómez. During the Spanish Civil War of 1936, Sepúlveda sided with the army that rebelled against the Republic. It served as a command post for the troops controlling passage through the Somosierra Pass. In January 2016, it became part of the association “The Most Beautiful Villages of Spain.”
The village of Sepùlveda on its heritage : https://www.turismosepulveda.es/sepulveda/monumentos
There you go folks, a wonderful beautiful village in deep Castilla y Léon region that should be visited, me think. Sepùlveda is a wonderful village, small enough to walk all over. and huge in Spanish history with marvelous architecture, we love it. Always looking forward to be back, eventually, Again, hope you enjoy the post on this is Sepùlveda !!! as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health ,and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 