Berzosilla (Olleros de Paredes Rubias) can be explored through two clear themes: local history and the landscape on the slope of the Páramo de la Lora. The church of San Juan Bautista, preserved medieval pottery kilns and finds from earlier centuries offer concrete points of reference for its cultural history. There is also the oak tree El Cornal and a range of route descriptions around La Lora. When planning your trip, you can choose between architecture, crafts and landscape without turning them into a fixed circular route.

The Church of San Juan Bautista and Local History

The church of San Juan Bautista is built of natural stone. Its nave has two bays and ribbed star vaults, while the main chapel has a groin vault. A bay is a section of the nave: the division into two bays makes it possible to compare the vaulting of the nave with that of the main chapel. The main altar also brings together different artistic influences. It is Neoclassical in style and features sculptures of Saint Michael, the Crucifixion and Saint Paul. The depictions of the Crucifixion and Saint Paul date from the 16th century. A chapel on the Epistle side adds to the church; it was built in the first third of the 17th century. The architecture and sculptures offer different points of interest if you are curious about architectural forms and religious art.

The cultural heritage also includes a house bearing a coat of arms and a humilladero (wayside shrine). Together with the church, these buildings show that the town’s history is not limited to a single type of building. You can consider the different themes separately when planning your trip: the church’s architecture, the main altar’s furnishings and other historic buildings in the town.

Pottery Kilns and Archaeological Traces

Medieval pottery kilns have been preserved in Olleros de Paredes Rubias. The pottery industry operated there from the Middle Ages until the last century. This links a long tradition of craftsmanship with surviving installations, without reducing the history to the kilns alone. Ceramics dating from the 8th to the 12th century were found near the so-called Casa del Conde, northeast of the town centre. These finds add a precisely defined early period to the history of pottery-making. Visitors interested in local history will find archaeological and craft-related themes here as well as the church.

Landscape and Routes

Olleros de Paredes Rubias lies on the slope of the Páramo de la Lora. One notable natural feature is El Cornal: the oak tree has a circumference of five metres. It is also worth keeping the route descriptions separate. Stage 3 of the Caminos Naturales route approaches Olleros via an old packhorse track. It passes through pastureland and by the Fuente Vieja. Local ground conditions can vary, so take this into account when planning.

On the Ebro and La Lora route, a track climbs to La Lora. Over 1.5 kilometres, it gains about 240 metres in elevation. These figures describe a concentrated elevation gain over a particular section, not a walking time. Seasonal conditions should be taken into account on the track. So check the conditions for your planned date before setting out. The two route descriptions offer different points of reference: Stage 3 focuses on the packhorse track, pastureland and Fuente Vieja, while the Ebro and La Lora route specifies the track, distance and elevation gain.

Regional Context

Administratively, Olleros de Paredes Rubias belongs to the province of Palencia. At the same time, practical connections, as well as a shared recent history and environment, link the town closely with Cantabria. This regional context adds to the picture of the individual town. Its location on the slope of the Páramo de la Lora describes its specific geographical setting. In the central and western Cantabrian Mountains, beech forests mark the southern limit of beech forest distribution.

Discover More Destinations

Marcilla De Campos, Aguilar De Campoo, Calzada de los Molinos, Valberzoso, Cantoral De La Peña, Astudillo, Dueñas, Villorquite del Páramo

For the main travel overview: Palencia.