Peñausende combines a distinctive church building with the remains of a castle belonging to the Order of Santiago, a history of settlement dating back to prehistoric times, and walking routes through a landscape shaped by field plots. If you are choosing a place to stay based on cultural and scenic discoveries, Peñausende offers a range of starting points: religious architecture, historical interpretations, walks and regional food culture.
San Martín de Tours: Architecture in the Town Centre
The Church of San Martín de Tours stands in the highest part of Peñausende’s town centre, on its northern edge and directly at the foot of the site where the castle once stood. Built from granite blocks, it has a chancel with a square-ended apse and a single-nave body. Three large round arches divide it into four sections.
Specific architectural details have also been preserved on the rear of the south wall: there, the original ashlar masonry reaches up to the eaves. Eight shaped corbels can be seen, along with another complete corbel with a central roll flanked by quarter-round mouldings. The clear division of the nave thus sits alongside the carefully formed details on the exterior wall.
Castle Remains and Early Settlement History
Remains of the castle of the Order of Santiago survive in Peñausende. At the summit of El Castillo is a large hollow, now almost covered by vegetation, which is interpreted as a Pozairón. Several granite stones nearby with small hollows are distinct from it: some authors interpret them as a possible rock sanctuary.
The history of the settlement extends beyond the tradition associated with this castle. Human settlements in Peñausende date back to prehistoric times. The first communities of some size in the area emerged during Roman times. These traces give the settlement’s history a long-term perspective, without implying that all historical interpretations refer to the same site.
The Vía de la Plata and Routes through the Landscape
The Calzada de Peñausende is a specific point of reference for getting around the region: the ZA-305 is a section of the Vía de la Plata. The road connects Peñausende with the provincial capital, Zamora, and in the opposite direction with Ledesma in the neighbouring province of Salamanca.
You can walk along the paths and tracks in Peñausende. Rustic walls border field plots on both sides, as is typical of the Sayago region. The landscape along these walking routes also includes centuries-old holm oaks. Alongside the architecture and historical themes, the field plots and the landscape they shape offer another way to explore the area.
Tapas and Wine Tradition
Traditional tapas in Peñausende include mollejas, cachuelas, morunos, octopus and crestas. These dishes offer a concrete taste of the local tapas tradition. Wine is also part of the culinary profile: Peñausende has a notable historical winemaking tradition and lies within the geographical area currently covered by the Tierra del Vino de Zamora designation of origin.
When choosing where to stay, you can weigh up the different highlights: the church, the castle tradition and the history of settlement shape the area’s cultural and historical side; the walking routes, with their Cortina walls and holm oaks, offer a scenic perspective. Tapas and wine tradition round out these two ways of exploring the area.
Discover more destinations: Anta de Rioconejos, Cerdillo, Fonfría, Muelas del Pan, Pajares De La Lampreana, Toro, Moralina, Pereruela.
For the overview of the wider region: Zamora.
