Nuevo Baztán: Heritage and the Senda de Valmores

The Conjunto Histórico de Nuevo Baztán is designated a Bien de Interés Cultural. Its main area comprises the historic town centre, with buildings, streets and squares. Other highlights include the architecture of individual buildings, an exhibition on industrial history and the Senda de Valmores nature trail. If you are looking for a hotel in Nuevo Baztán, you can plan your stay around whether you are mainly interested in architectural history, the exhibition or a hike.

Architectural history and design

José Benito de Churriguera designed the complex from around 1709; construction continued until 1713. The Iglesia de San Francisco Javier has a Greek cross floor plan. Its towers and dome are crowned with roof ornaments. The church also contains altarpieces attributed to José Benito Churriguera.

The Palacio de Goyeneche is arranged around a square main courtyard, which is enclosed on the ground floor by round-arched arcades. This building offers another specific architectural feature alongside the church’s cross-shaped floor plan. Architectural barriers were removed when the courtyard was restored, allowing visitors to access it safely.

Centro de Interpretación and planning your visit

The Centro de Interpretación de Nuevo Baztán is located in the former wine cellar of the industrial complex. The exhibition covers the historic industries that developed in Nuevo Baztán and its surrounding area. Models, explanatory panels and reproductions of objects present the topics; an audiovisual programme focuses on the lives of Goyeneche and his architect, Churriguera.

Admission to the Centro is free. It is accessible to most people with physical, psychological or sensory disabilities. Check the latest visitor information before your visit, especially if you have specific questions about accessibility. Group visits must be arranged in advance. Groups may have no more than 30 people and must be accompanied by a person responsible for the group.

The activities include workshops where children and adults can learn about making scented soaps, modelling glass and producing handmade paper. If you would like to include one of these workshops in your plans, check availability before your trip. Parking is available on the streets bordering the historic town centre.

Two routes with different focuses

The Senda de Valmores is an easy circular nature trail that starts in the historic town centre. The route is listed as 5.00 kilometres long and takes 150 minutes. These details can help you factor the route’s length and duration into your day. The trail links landscapes of high plateaus and downy oak forests with the ruins of former factories and fulling mills.

In the species-rich Valmores Valley, you can watch birds of prey, while centuries-old holm oaks provide shade. The Senda thus combines nature watching with traces of earlier industrial use in a single route. The “Nuevo Baztán Imprescindible” route has a different focus: it takes you on foot through the monumental complex and to Nuevo Baztán’s most significant secular buildings. If you want to focus on architecture, this route offers a different theme from the nature trail.

The Javierada in March

The “Javierada” is a popular pilgrimage held on the second Sunday in March, organised by people from Navarre who live in Madrid. If you would like to plan your trip around this date, check the programme for the relevant year in advance.

Discover more destinations: Arroyomolinos, Moraleja De Enmedio, Soto Real, Canencia, Gargantilla Del Lozoya, Galapagar, Valdemanco, Algete

For the main travel overview: Madrid.