Simancas, the jewel of the Castilian crown

Just over a dozen kilometres away from Valladolid, well linked by the highway, there is a city that the Castile and Leon visitor cannot miss: Simancas. It was chosen as the fortress to keep the Castilian most important documents, and so it became the jewel of the Castilian crown in the following years. Located inside a beautiful medieval castle, it is not the only thing that the city has to offer. Simancas is dominated by the impressive church of El Salvador, which combines Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance styles, and if you cross the ancient Plaza Mayor, you will arrive to a mirador over the medieval bridge, surrounded by a huge park where people can walk, cycle or have cute picnics at noon. 

The General Archive of Simancas

When you leave the highway, just a few metres away, you find the 15th-century castle, built over an Arabic fortress. Soon it stopped serving as a castle and was used as a prison, where a famous and rebel bishop strangled the warden and tried to run away before he was finally sentenced to death. Nevertheless, the prison did not last long: King Phillip II, the king that ruled over the vastest empire ever seen, settled it as the national Archive. It is one of the biggest in Europe, with over 35 million documents inside, locked in a chamber that cannot be burnt. Today, it is the UNESCO patrimony, and often there are expositions, such as some related to the discovery of America and others just as crucial. Do not hesitate to go inside! Some are still under study, so who knows what surprises may still await us.

General Archive of Simancas

C. Miravete, 12, 47130 Simancas, Valladolid, Spain

Simancas on the crossroads

Simancas is situated on the Camino of Santiago (pilgrimage route), and so it is shown on the local church of El Salvador. It has a shell on the façade and an altarpiece belonging to this saint. It was already an important crossroad in Roman times: the current bridge was built over the Roman one that followed the road linking Mérida and Zaragoza. If you look at the arches, you will see different shapes of arches, all of them belonging to the different times where it had to be rebuilt, after wars and floods. That makes it one of a kind!  

El Salvador Church, Simancas

C. Hospital, 1, 47130 Simancas, Valladolid, Spain

The legend

The origin of Simancas seems to be pre-roman. Then it was named Septimanca. The local legend probably takes the number seven out of this name (septi-). It is a very popular legend in the area! It goes like this: in the times where the Moorish ruled Castile, they demanded 100 maidens, and Septimanca was to give away seven. The chosen ones decided dramatically to chop off their right hands, and then King Ramiro said a famous sentence: “si mancas me las dais, mancas no las quiero” (if one-handed they are, one-handed I do not want them). To this day, there are feasts and dances to honour the seven maidens. 

Hiking and biking

If you like hiking or biking, Simancas is a safe bet. The park alongside the river Pisuerga is perfectly adapted to your needs, and plus there are some routes designed for all levels, including the Camino of Santiago. After the physical activity, you need to recover yourself with the local gastronomy. Do not hesitate to taste anything related to pork, and maybe some wine from the wineries of Valladolid. 

You get to see beautiful nature, eat and drink like a king and get to know some of the most important items of the Spanish history…everything at Simancas, the jewel of the Castilian crown!