Discover Pedraza: History, Culture and Hotels

Pedraza has been designated a Conjunto Monumental (monumental complex) since 1951. A visit can focus on several specific highlights: the town’s historic architecture, a tour of the Gran Castillo, and recurring festivals in July and September.

Squares, Streets and Architectural History

On the Plaza Mayor, arcaded houses stand opposite the church. Originally, there were two 16th-century houses, which were later divided into four dwellings. Calle Real is Pedraza’s historic main thoroughfare and leads to the Plaza Mayor; notable historic buildings line the street. The street and square thus offer different perspectives on the townscape: historic buildings line Calle Real, while the arcaded houses on the Plaza Mayor stand opposite the church.

The Iglesia de San Juan Bautista preserves a Romanesque tower and apse; its interior was later given a Baroque makeover. Unlike the arcaded houses, whose history also reflects their later subdivision, the church combines Romanesque features with a later Baroque design for its interior.

Castle and Historic Buildings

A tour of the Gran Castillo de Pedraza includes access to the castle, its courtyards and rooms. A free audio guide in Spanish and English is included. If you plan this visit in advance, check the latest visitor information.

La Cárcel de la Villa is a medieval building dating from the 13th century that was rebuilt in the 16th century. It retains a dungeon, wooden cells and historic prison furnishings. The castle and the prison building thus represent different aspects of history: access to the castle includes its courtyards and rooms, while the surviving prison furnishings define the character of the Cárcel.

The Casa del Águila Imperial is located in Pedraza in the former church of San Miguel. The complex includes the Jardín de San Miguel, which provides additional facilities for public use.

Festivals in July and September

The Conciertos de las Velas (Candlelight Concerts) take place every year on the first and second Saturdays in July. They combine concerts with the illumination of the town by thousands of candles. If you want to plan your trip around this event, check the exact dates in advance. This lets you plan your stay around the festival calendar, rather than treating the event as an attraction available at any time.

The Fiestas en Honor a la Virgen del Carrascal (Festivities in Honour of Our Lady of Carrascal) take place in the first half of September. On 8 September, a procession passes through the streets of Pedraza. Men also dance jotas in front of the image before the traditional “subasta de palos” (auction of the staffs) takes place. This gives you two different time windows to choose from when planning your visit: the first two Saturdays in July and the first half of September.

A Route as a Standalone Itinerary

The Gallegos–Pedraza–Galíndez–Gallegos route is 15.6 kilometres long and takes about five hours. It is considered to be of scenic, historical, cultural and ethnographic interest. Its approximate duration gives this activity a clear time frame. When planning your trip, you can therefore distinguish the route from a stay focused on Pedraza’s architectural history or one of the festival dates.

If you plan to attend an event, check the dates before setting your travel dates.

Discover more destinations: Requijada, Zamarramala, Ortigosa Del Monte, La Pradera De Navalhorno, Cuéllar, Bernuy de Porreros, Coca, Castroserracín.

Go to the main travel overview: Segovia.