Aldeasoña: Trails, Springs and Village History

Aldeasoña brings together routes, springs, village history and traditional architectural styles. The routes vary considerably in length and type; the Lavadero, church and mill sites add historical details to outdoor activities. When planning your trip, you can first decide whether hiking, cycling or the village’s architectural history should shape your stay. When looking for hotels in Aldeasoña, this question can help you decide what to focus on.

Routes and Route Types

The Ruta del Valle de la Hoz runs from Aldeasoña to Membibre de la Hoz and is about six kilometres long. Residents of both villages renew the trail every year and have a picnic in the other village. In this way, the route connects two named places through a local tradition involving both communities.

The Ruta del Molino de la Hoz starts at Bar El Parque and follows a linear one-kilometre route along the Arroyo de la Hoz to a privately owned mill. It is not signposted. Bear the lack of signage in mind when planning this route. Its linear course to a mill sets it apart from the route connecting Aldeasoña and Membibre de la Hoz.

The Ruta de Los Lavaderos (BTT) passes through Aldeasoña and is 39 kilometres long. It adds a considerably longer cycling route to the two hiking routes. The lengths are easy to compare: about six kilometres for the route between the villages, one kilometre for the linear route to the mill, and 39 kilometres for the BTT route. This lets you compare the routes by distance and type of activity.

Water Sites and Architectural History

The Lavadero of Aldeasoña is on the road to Peñafiel, retains its washboards and is next to the Fuente de los 4 Caños. The water inlet is also still visible on the road to Peñafiel. The Fuente del Piojo is a natural spring on the road to Membibre de la Hoz, near Calle Alta.

Most of the mills in Aldeasoña have disappeared or are privately owned; one is next to the washing places. Another mill site is on the road to Laguna de Contreras, along a path branching off to the right towards Vivar de Fuentidueña, and is also privately owned. These locations show how closely mills and water sites are connected with the village’s history, without presenting privately owned sites as publicly accessible destinations.

The Iglesia de Santa María Magdalena houses a Romanesque baptismal font measuring 124 centimetres in diameter. Aldeasoña’s Viacrucis is on Calle Alta, near a natural spring. The Romanesque baptismal font and the Viacrucis give you two specific points of interest in Aldeasoña’s architectural and cultural history.

Traditional houses also tell the story of regional architecture: a wine cellar may be located in the lower part of a building, or a cellar may be dug into a hillside outside the house. These different types of cellar reflect the importance of winegrowing in the area. They add a detail to the architectural history that is directly linked to the houses’ former use and the local wine tradition.

Riverside Recreation and Trip Planning

On the riverbank, there is a recreation area with sports courts, tables and an area suitable for swimming. If you plan to use the facilities, check their condition before your visit, as the infrastructure may change. This lets you plan according to the conditions you actually find.

The fiestas in honour of Santa María Magdalena are dated 22 July. If you would like to plan your trip around this occasion, check the local programme in advance. Trails, water sites, architectural styles and the feast day offer different reasons for a stay; consider which of these themes is most important for your trip before looking for hotels.

Discover more destinations: Mata de Quintanar, Castillejo De Mesleón, Gallegos, Caballar, Cedillo De La Torre, La Matilla, Valsaín, Roda de Eresma.

For the overview of the wider region: Segovia.