Puntos de Interés
Municipality
Sardón de Duero
Sardón de Duero is a town in the Tierra de Pinares region of the province of Valladolid, 28 km from the provincial capital.
The name’s etmyology can be traced to the term sarda, which means scrubland. The reference is to a small holm oak bush, as the moorland surrounding the municipality was previously populated by holm oak groves, although only a few remain today.
The town's geographical location links its origin to the colonisation and repopulation of the lands of Valladolid throughout the 12th century. This was driven by the surrounding councils and monasteries, which led to the construction and foundation of important churches such as Santa María de Duero, Santa María de Retuerta and Santa María de Valbuena.
The establishment of these large estates, linked to different monastic orders, led to the growth of small farms and villages, as well as the development of farming-related infrastructure, including irrigation channels, dams and flour mills. The town of Sardón de Duero was established in the 12th century around the Monastery of Santa María de la Retuerta as an agricultural and livestock farm. The earliest documentary evidence of the town dates to the 14th century, when it appears as a lordship belonging to the Merindad del Infantazgo de Valladolid.
The town's monuments include the Parish Church of San Juan Bautista, which was constructed in the 16th century. The church has a single nave with vaulted ceilings, a simple style and minimal decoration, with a masonry tower on the exterior. Some of the former altarpieces belonging to the Abbey of Santa María de Retuerta are also on display. The Premonstratensian monastery, constructed in the 12th century in the late Romanesque style, is situated a few kilometres from the town. It is also worth noting the flour mill, known as the Santa Eugenia flour mill. The Valimón stream, which runs through the town, was the site of an industrial complex built in 1814. The premises were originally a cigarette paper factory and subsequently became an electric light factory.
In terms of celebrations, the festivities held in honour of San Juan, on 24 June, are particularly noteworthy. The festivities of the Virgen del Patrocinio take place on the first weekend of August.