Discover Matabuena

Matabuena brings together several themes that can help you plan a trip: routes through the municipality, traces of its milling history, historic buildings and fountains. If you are looking for hotels in Matabuena, these interests may influence your choice of destination. The town lies on the N-110 national road between Plasencia and Soria, providing a clear geographical reference point.

Trails and Landscape

The Senda de los Pastores passes through Matabuena and forms part of a 154.90-kilometre route. The Starlight Foundation has certified it because of the quality of the night sky along the route. Both its length and the night sky are therefore distinctive features of this trail. The Cañada Real Soriana Occidental also crosses the municipality. Every year, transhumant livestock travelled along this historic drovers’ road from the province of Soria towards Extremadura. The Senda is notable for its route and night sky, while the Cañada is notable for its history of livestock migration.

Route 5, “Roads and castles to adorn the landscape,” runs from Pedraza through Matabuena to Puerto de Navafría. The Matabuena–Puerto de Linera route follows the old road to the pass; check local trail conditions before planning your trip. A scenic route that includes Matabuena lies entirely within the Sierra Norte de Guadarrama Natural Park.

Mills and Crafts

The Molino de Abajo, also known as the molino del Habanero, was in operation until the 1970s; its walls are still standing. By contrast, only a few traces of the Molino de Arriba remain. A bellows and a stone have been preserved at La Fragua in Matabuena. The bellows offer a tangible link to blacksmithing and add another craft to the traces left by the mills.

The Museo del Molino opened in Matamala in 2002. The exhibition displayed used mill parts and machinery and explained how they worked. The museum is currently closed to the public.

Buildings and Archaeological Traces

The parish church of San Bartolomé preserves a Romanesque portal; the rest of the building was constructed in several later phases. At the church, you can distinguish an older portal from the later sections of the building. The Ermita de San Martín in Cañicosa is rectangular, with a round-arched portal and a bell gable. The year 1794 is inscribed at the base of its façade cross.

The archaeological evidence also points to different periods: Matabuena was inhabited as early as the Bronze Age. Caves with schematic engravings on their ceilings and walls were discovered in 2003, ahead of the construction of the Frontón.

Fountains and Festivals

Matabuena’s abundant water is accompanied by plentiful vegetation and numerous fountains. The Fuente San Pedro, a fountain dating from 1951, stands in the central square; its water comes from a spring beside Peña del Castillejo. The water at Fuente Buena comes from Prado de la Tolla.

The Fiesta de San Martín, the patron saint festival, is traditionally celebrated in Cañicosa on 4 July. It includes a mass at the hermitage, a shared meal and music. The pilgrimage to Cruz de las Reliquias is traditionally associated with 1 May. It leads to a cross at an altitude of 1,957 metres; afterwards, there is a shared meal in the Los Bardales area. If you would like to plan your trip around one of these festivals, check the date in advance.

Discover more destinations: Chatún, San Miguel de Bernúy, Grajera, Aldeasoña, Fuenterrebollo, Cuéllar, Las Navas De Riofrío, Chañe

For the regional travel overview: Segovia.