With little more than 200 inhabitants and almost 100 Km form Burgos, but very close to Aranda de Duero, one can find the small township of Hoyales de Roa.
It was populated during the prehistoric period from which ceramics remain and there are also possibly traces of foundations from the Roman times under the Medieval Tower.
Only three walls remain standing of the village’s fortified tower from the XII century. Located in the most prominent position of the village, it is visible from various Km in the proximity and it is half way between Roa and Haza. It was built with reinforced ashlar stone, reaching a height of 21 metres. Part of its stone was reused for the construction of the rest of the township.
The parish church of San Bartolomé (dependent of Castrillo de la Vega) is equally as relevant. The church dates back to the XVIII century and has a neoclassic style. Its façade is Romanesque and its altarpiece is from the beginning of the XVIII century. According to an inscription, it was built while King Carlos III and Pope Pius VI were reigning.
Furthermore, the chapel of la Virgen de Arriba is worth a visit and of course, as in many of the villages in the Ribera del Duero region, its wineries, in the castle area, alongside the ‘contadores’ (where the lorries carrying grapes were weighed) are also worth visiting.
Gastronomy in Ribera of Duero
During the vendimia (grape harvest), the dessert known as los Tortos de uva is traditional (November).
Routes to carry out in Hoyales de Roa