Puntos de Interés
Municipality
Chapel of San Cosme and San Damián
Vadocondes is located on the inner bank of one of the meanders of the River Duero as it passes through Burgos. The area around Vadocondes has been a strategic location due to its proximity to the Duero River, one of the most important fluvial arteries of the Iberian Peninsula. The presence of two mountain ranges flanking the valley has also attracted many peoples and cultures since prehistoric times. This is evidenced by archaeological sites such as Santa Ana. Since that time, the local population has concentrated on farming the land, with a focus on dry crops such as wheat, barley, rye and legumes. However, irrigated crops such as beetroot have also played a significant role, supported by the irrigation channels of the Duero River.
According to local lore, the name Vadocondes was bestowed upon the area by some counts who fought in the surrounding region. The team was able to successfully navigate the river crossing at the ford between Aranda and Langa de Duero thanks to their knowledge of the local shepherds and the directions provided. However, the first documented reference to Vadocondes is from 1136. In 1316, King Ferdinand IV of Castile granted the town of Vadocondes the status of villa, in recognition of its support during his military campaigns, particularly during the siege of Almazán in 1300. The town developed in line with the pace set by the Crown of Castile. Its heyday was between 1500 and 1700, during which time the walls and entrance gates to the town were constructed (the Puerta Imperial, rebuilt as the Puerta Nueva, and the Puerta de Burgos), as well as the main square, presided over in the centre by a jurisdictional roll and where the church dedicated to Nuestra Señora de la Asunción is located. The town remained unchanged for centuries until the French occupation, when Napoleon's troops sacked the church on 18 November 1808. The advent of the railway saw Vadocondes undergo a series of structural changes because of industrialisation. Furthermore, the project led to a significant improvement in the relationship with the river, with the construction of several irrigation canals (the Canal de Guma or Canal de la Reina Victoria and the Canal de Aranda) and the erection of a retaining wall upstream to mitigate the impact of the Duero's floods.
The municipality of Vadocondes has been designated an Asset of Cultural Interest due to its significant number of historic buildings and constructions. The city boasts a significant number of bridges, representing various historical periods. The Puente Seco is a notable example from the late Middle Ages. It crosses the Rebolleda stream, which has not been adequately funded. The Bridge over the Duero, with four arches, was constructed between 1652 and 1657. However, continuous floods destroyed the original bridge, and the current structure dates from the 19th century. The Puente de Hierro was built in 1894 to allow the train to pass over it. There are a few chapels situated on the outskirts of Vadocondes. These include the Chapel of San Cosme y San Damián, which is dedicated to the patron saints of the town, and the Chapel of El Humilladero, which was constructed in 1602 and has a more austere character. The religious heritage is completed by the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, a medieval temple built in a style halfway between Romanesque and Gothic. The church's most distinctive feature is the sundial that was installed in the tower in 1608. However, it is important to note that the church also boasts a number of other artistic pieces, including the main altarpiece, which was completed in 1757 in a Rococo style, as well as the elegant Renaissance baptismal font from the mid-16th century and the exquisite façade crowned with an image of the Virgin Mary.
The most significant dates in the Vadocondes calendar are concentrated on 15 August, in honour of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción. On this day, the villagers gather in the bodegas to celebrate the day with their families. On the last weekend of September, a pilgrimage is held to the chapel of the town's patron saints, San Cosme and San Damián, to pay devotion to the carvings of the saints.