Sigüenza (Guadalajara)

What you can see and do in Sigüenza

Sigüenza is a historical-artistic town with countless options for travellers. Its castle, now a National Parador Hotel, was built on an old Arab eighth century tower. Construction of the castle began in the first quarter of the 12th century, while it was reformed profoundly between the 14th and 16th centuries. It is commonly known as the Castle of the Bishops as it was an episcopal see for several centuries. At its foot, the Jewish district was in the south-west: the Iron Gate was the access connecting this district with the rest of the city.

Sigüenza Cathedral, begun in the first quarter of the 12th century, is a must. One of its chapels contains the Young Nobleman of Sigüenza, the sepulchre of Martín Vázquez of Arce, a knight who died in 1486 during the war in Granada. The sepulchre is one of the great works of Gothic civil sculpture because of its meticulous detail and weightless beauty. The same cathedral has the Sacristy of the Heads, with hundreds of faces carved by Alonso de Covarrubias representing the multiple forms of medieval society.

But these are only two of the sights that will astonish visitors to the attractive historical centre, with the Romanesque churches of St Vincent Martyr (12th-13th centuries) and St James (12th century) and the House of the Young Nobleman (15th-16th centuries), its squares and streets, its doorways and walls.

But Sigüenza is also in the Natural Area of the River Dulce Ravine, a limestone river canyon with riverbank vegetation where griffon vultures, Egyptian vultures, golden eagles and Bonelli’s eagles make their nests and otters and Pyrenean desmans live. It’s a beautiful natural spot, easily visited along short paths. Remember that you can go through part of this natural area on the footpath in the Way of El Cid from Aragosa to Sigüenza, which also goes through La Cabrera and Pelegrina (about 20km).

Rev.: JGG 10.08.21