Pajares De La Lampreana: Art, Pilgrimage and Festivals

Anyone planning a stay in Pajares De La Lampreana can focus on two main themes: religious art and festival traditions, as well as a named wetland. At the cultural heart is the Virgen del Templo. The Romanesque carved figure was made between 1200 and 1220 and is 85 centimetres tall. The church, hermitage and recurring events add to the cultural picture, while the Laguna de las Higuillas offers a distinct connection with nature.

Sacred Art and Architectural History

The Iglesia de San Pedro is a 12th-century church. Another point of reference for art history is the main altar of the Ermita de Santa María del Templo. This Renaissance work comprises nineteen panels painted in the Italian style in the 16th century; half of them are by the Zamoran painter Blas de Oña.

Together with the Romanesque carved figure, the artistic period spans the early 13th to the 16th century. The Virgen is represented by a single carved image, while the altar features a series of painted panels. This makes it possible to distinguish between different art forms and periods. The hermitage is the usual home of the image of the Virgen del Templo.

Festivals and the Annual Calendar

Rogation processions in honour of the Virgen del Templo take place on 14 April and 2 July. These are recurring dates; the exact programme may vary from year to year. The festival of the Virgen del Templo on 8 September is known locally as La Feria. The processions and the September festival are dedicated to the same Marian figure, but they are separate events.

Pajares de la Lampreana’s cultural week takes place in the last week of August. The programme includes theatre performances, dances, exhibitions of traditional crafts and children’s drawings. The specific dates and activities in this recurring programme may vary.

If you are travelling for a festival, the specific date matters; if your focus is art or nature, you can instead plan your stay around your interests.

Pilgrimage and Nature

A traditional pilgrimage leads from Villarrín de Campos to the Ermita de Pajares de la Lampreana. Participants wear white tunics and walk barefoot. Unlike a single festival date, this tradition has both a starting point and a destination; the clothing and barefoot walk give it a distinctive character. The hermitage is the usual home of the image of the Virgen del Templo.

The Laguna de las Higuillas is a wetland in the Duero Basin covering 2.2 hectares and associated with Pajares De La Lampreana. It adds a distinct connection with nature to the religious buildings, artworks and festival dates. The village therefore offers a choice of different themes: religious heritage on the one hand and a named wetland on the other.

Accommodation and Travel Planning

The provincial rural tourism directory lists Casa Ernesto in Pajares De La Lampreana as accommodation with seven places. If you are considering this accommodation for your plans, check current availability before booking.

For a stay during festival dates, the event date is an important point of reference. If you are more interested in the art or the Laguna de las Higuillas, you can make that theme the starting point for your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Benavente, Villaralbo, Peleagonzalo, San Vitero, Santa Cruz De Los Cuérragos, Otero de Bodas, Ferreras de Arriba, Samir De Los Caños.

View the broader travel guide: Zamora.