Casillas de Berlanga combines the Ermita de San Baudelio with its own local history and other cultural sites in the surrounding area. The ermita is a little over a kilometre from Casillas de Berlanga, secluded in a small valley. The exact distance may vary depending on the access point. When planning your visit, bear in mind that the building is located outside the village.
The Ermita de San Baudelio and its architectural features
Built at the end of the 11th century, the ermita is considered one of the finest examples of Mozarabic architecture on the Iberian Peninsula. Its layout can be described through several distinctive details: the nave is arranged around a central column, from which eight horseshoe arches rise like palm branches. In the lower section, there is a colonnade with horseshoe arches leading to a hermit's cave. Together, these features reveal different levels and forms within the same building.
The murals also contribute to the ermita's significance. The paintings inside are among the most important surviving ensembles on the Iberian Peninsula; some of the original paintings were removed historically. Next to the chapel is a rock-cut necropolis with more than twenty anthropomorphic tombs, that is, tombs shaped like people. Most are dated to the 11th and 12th centuries. Evidence suggests that the necropolis remained in use until the 16th century. The building, paintings, and tombs offer different perspectives on the history of the ermita.
Churches and cultural sites in the surrounding area
Casillas de Berlanga is also home to the Iglesia de San Juan Bautista. The single-nave church has an adjoining building and a sacristy. Nearby, in Caltojar, stands the Romanesque Iglesia de San Miguel, built in the first third of the 13th century. The two churches add to the area's architectural attractions: San Juan Bautista is associated with the village of Casillas, while San Miguel is in Caltojar.
The Centro de interpretación San Baudelio in Berlanga de Duero is another place to visit alongside the ermita. Panels and models there explain the ermita, and an audiovisual reconstruction shows what it originally looked like. If you plan to visit, check the current opening hours in advance. This allows you to include the interpretation centre in Berlanga de Duero as a separate stop on your itinerary.
Getting there and route planning
From Soria, travel to Casillas de Berlanga via the SO-100 to Berlanga de Duero, then continue on the SO-152. Road conditions and signage may change, so check them for your specific journey. For further route planning, the Ruta por Tierras de Berlanga can serve as a guide. The municipal route proposal includes Berlanga de Duero, Casillas de Berlanga, Caltojar, BrÃas, Rello, and Retortillo de Soria. Its itinerary may change over time, so it is worth checking the latest route information.
When choosing somewhere to stay, it helps to distinguish between the different destinations: the ermita is outside Casillas de Berlanga, while the interpretation centre is in Berlanga de Duero and the Iglesia de San Miguel is in Caltojar. The route, in turn, connects several places in the region. These location details provide a clear framework for planning without presenting the destinations as a single site.
The river and traditional food culture
The RÃo Escalote flows through Casillas de Berlanga and is one of the village's defining landscape features. The ermita, by contrast, is a little over a kilometre away in a small valley.
A traditional rural practice is also part of local heritage. For adobo, chorizo, pork loin, and ribs were smoked and then stored in glazed earthenware vessels. This account describes a traditional method of preparation and storage, not a current offering for visitors. Along with the churches and the ermita, this tradition broadens the picture of Casillas de Berlanga beyond its architecture.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Cubo De La Solana, Dombellas, Molinos De Duero, Ocenilla, Sotillo Del Rincón, Ãgreda, Valdemaluque, Almazán.
For the regional travel overview: Soria.
