Discover Las Quintanillas

Las Quintanillas brings together the Vía Aquitania and a distinctive history of churches and folklore. This offers several themes to consider when planning your trip: choosing a specific route toward Villanueva de Argaño, visiting buildings with different historical roots, and exploring regional music traditions. The hamlet of Villarmentero, which is part of the municipality, also has its own church and a landscape shaped by rivers and streams.

Vía Aquitania: two route options

From Las Quintanillas toward Villanueva de Argaño, there are two options on the Vía Aquitania. One route runs parallel to the N-120 along the original course of the Calzada Original; the other takes an interesting detour via Palacios de Benaver. The original route of the Vía Aquitania through Las Quintanillas is 13.99 km long. This distance refers to the original alignment. If you plan to take a detour, check its route before setting out.

The approach to Las Quintanillas via the N-120 runs along the left-hand shoulder, as there is no path there. If you use this approach on foot, check the current conditions along the roadside beforehand. This keeps your choice of route separate from the specific approach in your travel plans.

Churches and their architectural history

The parish church of Las Quintanillas stands on a small hill in Barrio Mayor. The Iglesia de San Facundo y San Primitivo was built in the Gothic style in the 14th and 15th centuries. Its architecture includes a tower and a neoclassical portal dating from the 18th century.

The Ermita de la Virgen de la Expectación is also known as the Ermita de la Virgen de la O. Its origins date back to the 10th and 11th centuries; later alterations were made in the 15th century, and it was restored in the mid-20th century. Unlike the parish church on the hill in Barrio Mayor, the hermitage is on the edge of town beside the N-120. It serves as a landmark for travelers and pilgrims in the area.

Music and folklore

In Las Quintanillas, the Grupo Cantando Tradiciones is associated with traditional music and folklore. The Tierra Noble group was founded by many people from Las Quintanillas to preserve the folklore and traditions of the villages in their region. Las Quintanillas hosted the XI Muestra de Folklore “Camino de Santiago,” organized by the local Tierra Noble group. At this edition, groups from Burgos performed alongside the Asociación Folklórica “Os Ventos de Comesaña” from Vigo, in the province of Pontevedra.

Villarmentero and historical context

In Villarmentero, a hamlet within the municipality of Las Quintanillas, the church of San Esteban Protomártir is dedicated to Saint Stephen the Protomartyr. Villarmentero’s landscape, shaped by rivers and streams, is well suited to outdoor activities such as hiking and birdwatching. This adds the landscape and outdoor activities to the churches and folklore as further considerations when planning a trip.

The history of Las Quintanillas also includes earlier ties to lordships and administrative districts. The town first belonged to the lordships of Urbel and Burgos. In the last third of the 11th century, Las Quintanillas, along with 42 other settlements, came under the administration of the Alfoz of Muñó. This sequence adds another perspective on the town’s historical development to the architectural history of its churches.

Discover more destinations: Ailanes, Hontoria De Valdearados, Cuevas De San Clemente, Fuentespina, Cabanas de Virtus, Citores del Páramo, Espinosa De Cervera, Villalmóndar.

For the broader travel overview: Burgos.