Spain's largest autonomous community offers a perfect combination of nature, gastronomy, culture and leisure that is only becoming more attractive to tourists. If you have a few free days to plan a route to get to know its secrets, it's definitely worth it. In this article we want to help you by showing you a driving tour through Castile and León that will surprise you.
Driving tour through Castile and León: What to visit?
Castile and León is one of the lesser known Spanish communities to many, but one of the most surprising. Your itinerary may vary depending on the number of days you have available, but in this article we show you some of the most impressive sites that you can't miss.
Avila: a wall steeped in history
The first stop on our route is Avila, with its imposing medieval wall that extends over more than 1.5 miles. It is also one of the best preserved examples of architecture over 2,000 years old. What's more, you can visit the Gothic cathedral and the Basilica of San Vicente.
Segovia: from the aqueduct to Coca castle
If you decide to stop in Segovia, you can't miss the popular Roman aqueduct, formed by 167 arches, easily the most iconic symbol of the city. After visiting the city and tasting the classic suckling pig, you can head to the Segovian town of Coca, where you can visit the impressive Gothic-Mudejar style castle, which dates back to the 15th century.
Valladolid: vineyards, vineyards, vineyards
The province of Valladolid is the perfect destination for wine lovers, as it is where the appellations of origin Ribera del Duero, Rueda and Cigales all call home. In total, there are almost 80 wineries that can be visited. An interesting stop is Peñafiel, where, in addition to tasting the wine, you can visit the castle that stands over the town.
Burgos: from Aranda de Duero to the capital city
In Burgos, before reaching the capital, you can make a stop in Aranda de Duero and visit the Sanctuary of the Virgen de las Viñas or the Interpretation Center of the Architecture Associated to Wine.
From there, head to Lerma, a small town famous for its history as the seat of the Duke of Lerma. In fact, the Ducal Palace is, along with the Collegiate Church of San Pedro, one of the most interesting cultural sites to see. Later, in Burgos, a visit to its cathedral, one of the most iconic in all of Spain, is a must.
León: nature, culture and gastronomy
Another of the provinces that will surprise you is León, where there is a huge variety of landscapes, monuments and relatively unknown tourist attractions. Starting with the capital itself, you can visit the beautiful cathedral and its stained glass windows, as well as the Basilica of San Isidoro, which highlights its chapel, or the Casa Botines, designed by Antoni Gaudí.
The next stop in the province of León is Astorga, a small town with a stately character and where cecina, the most typical León meat product, originates. In Astorga you can visit the cathedral, the Gaudí Palace, and you can go to Castrillo de los Polvazares to eat a tasty maragato stew.
After that, you will reach El Bierzo. Here, you can visit one of the many wineries that are part of this appellation of origin, and stop in Ponferrada, where the Templar castle stands out.
From Zamora to Salamanca via the Arribes del Duero
To finish this driving tour through Castile and León, we suggest you take the car and drive through the Arribes del Duero, a protected natural area that acts as a border with Portugal and which is notable for being one of the most beautiful places in this community. Here you can visit small towns and villages with a great deal of charm, such as Fermoselle, Miranda do Douro and Saucelle, among others.
All this will culminate in a visit to Salamanca, one of the cities with a great number of cultural attractions in a confined space. You can't miss the iconic main square, Casa de las Conchas, cathedral, University or Escuelas Menores.
As you can see, organising a driving tour through Castile and León is an experience that combines culture, leisure and gastronomy, always surprising those who choose to discover it in depth. It is also a good way of delving into the origins of Spanish society.
At OK Mobility, we offer you the car rental that best suits your family to enjoy unforgettable days travelling one of the hidden treasures in this vast country. And having the freedom to get around by car allows you to improvise certain plans, which are usually the ones we hold most dear.
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