Discover Montamarta

Montamarta brings together a recurring January tradition, churches, monastic history, and traditional architecture. If you are choosing a destination with a cultural focus, you will encounter several historical layers here: the Zangarrón on two days in January, religious buildings from different centuries, and houses built with adobe, rammed earth, and stone. A pilgrimage stage also passes through Montamarta along agricultural tracks. These themes give you a practical framework for planning: you can shape your trip around a custom, architecture, or the route of a pilgrimage stage.

The Zangarrón on two days in January

The Zangarrón is a distinctive tradition of the province of Zamora, and in Montamarta it consists of just one figure. It is celebrated on January 1 and 6. Two people are selected from the Quintos of that year: one takes on the role on New Year's Day, the other on Epiphany. In this way, two days and two people are associated with the same figure. If you want to make the custom the occasion for a trip, plan around these January dates and check the dates before your visit.

Pilgrimage route and the Ermita de la Virgen del Castillo

On the stage from Zamora to Granja de Moreruela, after passing through Roales del Pan, the route follows agricultural tracks to Montamarta. At the edge of the village, pilgrims cross a small medieval bridge and come upon the monumental Ermita de la Virgen del Castillo on a raised hill.

Churches and monastic history

The Iglesia de Santa María del Castillo is a 16th-century Renaissance building constructed on limestone cliffs. It rises above the valley of the Río Esla. In summer, the area at the foot of the church is accessible, while in wet periods it is flooded by the river. If you plan to visit this area, take the water conditions into account.

The Iglesia de San Miguel Arcángel was built in 1910 by Francisco Nieto using surviving architectural elements from an earlier temple dating to 1720. The main altar features San Miguel Arcángel in the central niche; the side niches depict saints from the Jerónimos monastery. This allows you to see both the later construction and the preserved parts of the earlier building in a single structure. The Monasterio de Nuestra Señora de Montamarta was founded in 1407 by 13 monks of the Hieronymite Order who came from the Monasterio de Guadalupe. The former Convento de San Jerónimo survives as a ruin.

Traditional architecture in Montamarta

Beyond its religious buildings, Montamarta's traditional architecture offers another cultural perspective. Thick walls of adobe and rammed earth rest on stone foundations. The materials are clearly distinct: earth forms the walls, and stone the foundation. Traditional houses often have an interior cellar, which was used to store wine and food. This feature adds a former practical use of the house to the picture of its construction. So, alongside the design of the churches, you can consider the relationship between building materials and everyday function as another way to explore the architecture.

Discover more destinations: Otero de Bodas, Almeida De Sayago, Muelas del Pan, Muga De Sayago, Pedrazales, Santa Cruz De Los Cuérragos, Manzanal de los Infantes, San Justo

For the broader travel overview: Zamora.