Paredes de Nava: Churches, Art and the Canal de Castilla

If you’re looking for hotels in Paredes de Nava, it helps to consider the themes that define the town: church architecture from several periods, art collections, the Canal de Castilla and a distinctive food culture. Depending on your interests, you can shape your stay around culture, scenery or food. The following highlights are clearly distinct and provide a basis for choosing your destination.

Churches and art from several periods

The Iglesia de Santa Eulalia combines a Romanesque tower with a Gothic central section and a Renaissance apse. Three distinct stylistic periods come together in a single building. The church houses the first parish museum founded in Spain, established in 1964. The Museo Parroquial de Santa Eulalia comprises almost 300 paintings, sculptures and goldsmith works from the Romanesque, Gothic, Hispano-Flemish, Renaissance and Baroque periods. The collection thus brings together different types of works and a broad span of time.

Another highlight can be found in the Iglesia de Santa María, which houses an Iberian Baroque organ by organ builder Tadeo Ortega.

Historical functions and orientation

El Pósito adds a civic dimension to the town’s history. The grain store, dating from the late 16th century, is located in the former Jewish quarter and was established to distribute grain. Its location, construction date and former function make it a different point of reference from the churches: here, the focus is on the historical role of grain distribution.

The former church of San Martín houses the Tierra de Campos Interpretation Centre and the tourist office. If you’d like to use either of these services to help you find your way around, check the latest information in advance, as services may change. The Museo de los Cuentos y la Ciencia is also located in the late Gothic church of San Martín. It is dedicated to science, art and children’s literature. This gives it a different thematic focus from the church art collections and the architectural history of the churches.

Routes along the Canal de Castilla

The Canal de Castilla offers a scenic focus for planning your trip. A 13-kilometre stretch of the canal runs through Paredes de Nava along the Ramal de Campos. Routes along the towpath let you experience both architecture and landscape. Here, exploring the town is combined with a walk through the countryside, rather than being focused solely on collections and buildings. If you’d like to include routes in your trip, the towpath is a distinctive aspect of Paredes de Nava shaped by the canal.

Puppetry, festivals and regional cuisine

La Casa de los Títeres offers guided visits featuring various techniques for making and operating marionettes. There is also a brief introduction to the history of puppetry and a gallery of giants and big-headed figures. The subject ranges from making and moving marionettes to large-scale figures. If you’re planning a visit, check dates and reservation requirements in advance.

The Fiesta del Esquileo is also part of the town’s cultural identity. It has been celebrated in Paredes de Nava since 2008 in memory of the brotherhood’s former traditions. If you’d like to plan your trip around a future edition, check the current dates locally.

Regional cuisine offers another point of interest: Lechazo Churro with D.O. is considered an outstanding product of Paredes de Nava’s gastronomy. The town also has a well-established tradition of Pijillo, a dish made from the offal, trotters and blood of a milk-fed lamb. The two dishes represent different sides of the food culture: a celebrated product and a traditional preparation with clearly specified ingredients.

Discover more destinations: Astudillo, Marcilla De Campos, Baltanás, Santa Olaja de la Vega, Pedraza De Campos, Cevico De La Torre, Dueñas, Santibañez De La Peña

For the regional travel overview: Palencia.