Yanguas

Altitude: 940 m
Population: 142
Area: 5.429 Has
Annual Festival: July, 15th – 18th.

Its shield reads: “Yanguas, the gates to Valdearnedo”. Armies, traders and ‘transhumanters’ had to go through Yanguas as it was the gate of the Cidacos Valley and the hinge connecting Castille and La Rioja.

River Cidacos flows along the town. It used to be the head of the region, and it used to be called "Land of Yanguas". The remainings of its castle and city walls are the witnesses of a past linked to shepherding and trading.

The houses with shields are remarkable in its very well preserved city centre, as well as the Town Council, the Door of the River and the Door of the Town, St Martin’s Church, the Romanesque St Michael’s Tower and Saint Mary’s Church. It has been declared Historic-Artistic Monument.


TOWN HALL, YANGUAS - From the 18th century, porticoed, with the shield of the town on its front wall. Yanguas comes from the latin word yanuas that means gate. This town has always worked as a gate and communication channel between the upper Duero and the Ebro river.

CASTLE OF YANGUAS - (GOOD OF CULTURAL INTEREST IN THE CATEGORY OF CASTLE IN 1949), It has a Moorish origin and it was built with mortar and lime in a square area surrounded by four towers. It was inhabited until 1600.

CERECEDA’S PALACE, YANGUAS - This palace house belonged to the family Cereceda. The shield on its wall dates from the 18th century. In the past it was used as a convent and a Civil Guard headquarter.

St LORENZO’S CHURCH, YANGUAS - It belongs to the early Gothic period and it is characterised by a Plateresque retable that nowadays is located within Saint Mary’s Church. Another remarkable retable is the one that shows two panels: one with baby Jesus sleeping and another with the Holy Family. On Friday, mayors of the region used to hold their meetings in this place, that is why the Records of the Town and Land were kept in this church within an iron chest painted with flower motives and two Roman citizens heads.

SAINT MARY’S CHURCH, YANGUAS - It is placed in the Old Town and was built in the 16th century, in Gothic style, and formed by three naves. Three magnificient retables decorate the place. Among them, the one placed at the main altar is dedicated to Saint Mary. The chapel in honour of Saint Christ belongs to the Town and Land and was finished in 1724. A great Baroque retable in which a crucified Christ is shown surrounded by many angels can be seen inside the chapel.

SAINT MICHAEL'S TOWER, YANGUAS - - This tower is the only remaining of a Romanesque 12th century temple. Slender and high, it has a square ground plant and it has round arch windows.

MUSEO DE ARTE SACRO DE YANGUAS - A rich heritage is held in this museum. Most of the pieces were found during the alterations made in the Church of Saint Lorenzo. Two Romanesque crucifixes and several sculptures are its most valuable treasures, together with a Flemish panel of the Virgin and other liturgical objects.

TOWN OF YANGUAS - (Good of Cultural Interest in the Category of Historical Group in 1993) This town, at the banks of the river Cidacos, used to be the head of the region that gave rise to its name: “Tierra de Yanguas”(Land of Yanguas). The remainings of its castle and city walls are the witnesses of a past linked to shepherding and trade. The houses with shields are remarkable in its very well preserved city centre, as well as the Town Council, the Door to the River and the Door to the Town, St Martin’s Church, the Romanesque St Michael’s Tower and Saint Mary’s Church.


The holy funeral is carried out on Eastern Friday. Some people dressed with capuchones (special hoods) parade along the streets of yanguas with candels and carrrying a Sculpture. Forty days after Eastern, the twenty five towns that belong to "Land of Yanguas" go on procession to the St Christ of the Vieja Villa. This festivity, which lied in oblivion for decades, was successfully recovered in 2000.

The main festival, in honour of Virgin of Carmen (July, 15th-18th) is celebrated together with the so-called Yanguas Fair that used to be an important cattle market.


Lería - Patrimonio forestal del estado bought it. It is in ruins and abandoned nowadays. The structure of the houses is well preserved, so visitors can feel the atmosphere and mystery of abandoned towns.

Vellosillo - At the beginning of the Ostaza valley. Some houses have been rebuilt recently. St Sebastian's chapel was renewed.

La Vega - Several houses have been restored as they used to be. The streets are still paved. La Vega is located among pastures in which some sheep live and are bred. Nowadays it is surrounded by pine woods. Coming into the town through the C-115, St Cabras’ Font can be found standing as a waterfall and a font where some old coins were found.

La Mata - By the Mountain Cruz del Cerro; it is completely abandoned. Some houses show the typical chimneys of the region of Pinares (Soria).


Town Council: Tel. N. and fax: : Tfno y fax: 975 39 15 16

Bar Asociación Amigos de Yanguas (Friendo of Yanguas Association): Tel. N.: 975 18 53 17

Religious Museum: Open from 11:00 to 14:00 and from 17:00 to 19:00, ask for Felipe.

Rural Tourist Resort “Centro de Turismo Rural el Rimero de la Quintina”.

Rural Tourist Resort “Centro de Turismo Rural Los cerezos de Yanguas”.