Tajueco – Pottery, San Pedro and trails along the Duero

Tajueco is best known as a tourist destination for its pottery. The parish church of San Pedro, local customs and the section of the Camino Natural Senda del Duero round out the picture. This gives you a choice of themes for planning your trip, from crafts and architectural history to nature and tradition.

Pottery and local history

Corded decoration is a characteristic motif of Tajueco pottery. The first potter from the village known from written records was Sebastián el ollero; his name is recorded in 1548. The craft can therefore be viewed through two distinct reference points: a specific decorative motif and a historical figure. If you are interested in ceramics, this combination of design and local history offers a particularly clear way into the subject.

San Pedro and architectural history

The parish church of San Pedro is Tajueco’s most significant historic and artistic building. Its main chapel is Gothic and was probably built shortly before 1430. At the same time, the church preserves a tiny chapel from the first Romanesque church. The distinction between the building periods is important: the date shortly before 1430 applies to the Gothic main chapel, while the small chapel is associated with the first Romanesque church. In addition to San Pedro, Tajueco has a small hermitage dedicated to Santo Cristo.

Forest and protected area

Part of Tajueco’s territory lies within the Natura 2000 site Riberas del Río Duero y afluentes. Two public forests, numbered 66 and 67, surround the village. On the way to Tajueco, you pass through maritime pine forests (Pinus pinaster), where resin is still produced. This brings several landscape features into view: part of the Natura 2000 site, the forests surrounding the village and the maritime pines along the way to Tajueco.

The Tajueco section of the Senda del Duero and Valdealcón

The section of the Camino Natural Senda del Duero that runs through Tajueco extends from the boundary with the municipality of Andaluz, near the El Molinillo spring, to the vicinity of the Fuente la Rana recreation area. It forms part of the sixth stage, which connects Andaluz and Gormaz. The route references work at different scales: Andaluz and Gormaz mark the stage connection, while El Molinillo and Fuente la Rana are the reference points for the local section.

On the right bank of the Tajueco section of the Senda del Duero, walkers can see Savin junipers, jabinos and pines. Tajueco also has a marked mycological route called Valdealcón. Alongside the local section of the Senda del Duero, attention is therefore drawn to a trail specifically named for mycology and its markings.

Customs and their timing

The Cántico de las Ánimas takes place on the evening of November 1 and is described as the only one of its kind in the province of Soria. Another custom is associated with the feast of San Roque: a staff bearing a small figure of a saint is passed from person to person; it is called la reliquia. The customs have different dates: the Cántico is tied to the evening of November 1, while the reliquia is associated with the feast of San Roque.

Discover more destinations: Hinojosa de la Sierra, Molinos De Duero, Barahona, Santa María De Las Hoyas, Quintanas De Gormaz, Arenillas, Cortos, Almazán.

For the broader travel overview: Soria.