Puntos de Interés
Municipality
Fresnillo de las Dueñas
Fresnillo de las Dueñas is a town and municipality in the Ribera del Duero region. The town's history dates to the 11th century, when it was known as Fresnillo. The name is derived from the white díctamo (Dictamnus albus), a plant with white flowers that produces oil and is also commonly known as fresnillo. In 1154, the village was renamed "de las Dueñas" due to the arrival of nuns from the neighbouring village of La Vid, who founded the convent of Nuestra Señora del Coro near the Chapel of Santo Cristo del Priorato. The nuns continued to oversee the lands around Fresnillo until 1390, when, due to economic challenges, the congregation ceased to exist, and the property became part of the assets of the Monastery of La Vid. In 1447, during the reign of Juan II of Castile, Fresnillo de las Dueñas became a town under the lordship of the Monastery of La Vid. It received the perpetual census in 1448 and finally emancipated itself and passed to the royal crown in 1555.
One of the most notable occurrences in the history of Fresnillo de las Dueñas is the miracle performed here by San Pedro de Bourges. According to legend, this saint made water flow from an oak tree to assist the local population. This miracle was inscribed on the wall of the Osma cathedral chapel, where the saint's remains were subsequently transferred following his demise. This is why the residents of Fresnillo de las Dueñas, known as the rooks, built a chapel dedicated to San Pedro de Bourges in the town centre.
In addition to the chapel, there is another one dedicated to Santo Cristo del Priorato on the outskirts of Fresnillo de las Dueñas, on the fertile plain of the river in the direction of Aranda del Duero. The religious heritage is completed by the church of La Natividad de Nuestra Señora, originally built in Romanesque style and later renovated in Gothic style in 1517. The church houses a beautiful 17th-century altarpiece with images of the four evangelists, attributed to the Burgos-born Diego de Siloé, one of the first artists of the Spanish Renaissance.
In contrast to most Castilian villages, Fresnillo de las Dueñas has experienced a notable increase in population over recent years, from 300 inhabitants in 1991 to almost 700 in 2021. The town's proximity to the rapidly expanding Aranda de Duero has attracted new residents, who view it as a convenient base from which to commute to their daily work in one of the area's many companies. This has resulted in numerous urban development projects and improvements to infrastructure and local services.
Despite the village's historical links with San Pedro de Bourges, the main festivities in Fresnillo de las Dueñas are held in honour of the Cristo del Priorato and the Natividad de Nuestra Señora. The first event is held on the Saturday closest to 13 May, the date on which the statue of Christ was transported to the village and later returned to its sanctuary. For generations the procession did not miss its annual appointment until, in the 1980s, the original Christ was stolen, although a new one has recently been sculpted to continue the centuries-old tradition. The other unmissable festival is the Natividad de la Virgen, which has been moved to 24 August. In the days leading up to the date, a series of celebrations will take place, including dances, mass and a variety of cultural activities.