Ayllón combines an old town designated a Bien de Interés Cultural (Asset of Cultural Interest) with the peaks of the Sierra de Ayllón surrounding the town. Its heritage ranges from churches and palaces to traces of the former castle. If you are considering Ayllón as a place to stay, you can plan your trip around your own interests: architectural history, the theatrical guided tour or one of the dated festivals each offers a different focus.
Town Gates, Palaces and Plaza Mayor
El Arco is one of Ayllón’s three former town gates. The gate bears four coats of arms belonging to prominent families. The Palacio de los Contreras adds a precisely dated building to this picture: Juan de Contreras had it built in 1497. Casa del Águila is a stately house made of ashlar stone. It owes its name to an eagle-shaped coat of arms depicting Saint John.
The Plaza Mayor is defined by old arcades with distinctive posts, considered a hallmark of the town. The Fuente de Cuatro Caños also stands there. It was built in 1892 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America. The square, arcades and fountain thus connect public space with specific episodes in the town’s history, while the palaces recall individual patrons and the stories of their houses.
Churches, Museum and Historical Traces
The Iglesia de San Miguel preserves Romanesque apses. Its portal is decorated with rosettes, zigzag and checkerboard patterns. By contrast, only the tower known as La Martina and stone foundations remain of the Iglesia de San Martín del Castillo. La Martina served as a watchtower and, until the 16th century, as the bell tower of the former church. The two churches therefore illustrate different ways of reading history in buildings: through preserved Romanesque features and through the remaining parts of a former complex.
The Palacio del Obispo Vellosillo houses the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Ayllón. Check access arrangements before visiting. The town hall also tells a story of construction in several phases: it was built in the 16th century, remodeled at the beginning of the 19th century and damaged by a fire in 1945, with only the façade remaining. The main altarpiece of Santa María la Mayor came from the San Francisco convent and was transferred there after the start of the Desamortización (disentailment) in 1840.
Another historical connection is preserved at the Casa-Palacio de María Eugenia de Montijo. It was first mentioned in a document in 1693 and also served as a resting place for María Eugenia de Montijo on her journeys between Paris and Madrid. The surviving remains of the adobe walls known as Los Paredones lie on the hill where Ayllón Castle once stood. Here, a documented connection to a traveler meets the material traces of the former castle complex.
Castle Hills, Rock and Wine Cellars
The castle hills consist of reddish and brown conglomerates, sandstones and claystones. Rivers and streams shaped these rocks during the Cenozoic Era. The alternating layers of sandstone and clay made it possible to build underground wine cellars. Traditional wine cellars and wine presses are located on the castle hills beside the Aguisejo River. Here, geology and building history are connected: the rock layers do more than describe the ground; they are also linked to the cellars built into it.
Guided Tour and Dates to Help Plan Your Trip
The theatrical guided tour presents historical events from the 13th century to the present day. It is led by a guide and includes six theatrical scenes. Allow about one hour and 45 minutes for the tour, and check reservation information and current availability before your trip. This makes for a clearly timed activity alongside the historic buildings, each of which explores its own themes.
Ayllón Medieval takes place on the last weekend of July. The program includes a market, threshing, street theater, falconry, storytelling, competitions, dinners for nobles and commoners, and Celtic music. Check the dates and program before your trip. The festival in honor of San Miguel Arcángel takes place on September 29; here, too, it is worth checking the details for the relevant year. If you are planning overnight stays around a festival or the guided tour, these dates and confirmation of the tour’s availability are useful points of reference.
Discover more destinations: Grado Del Pico, Valdesimonte, Juarros de Riomoros, Castroserna De Abajo, Coca, Sotosalbos, Adrada De Pirón, Collado Hermoso.
For the overview of the wider region: Segovia.
