Pastrana

Member of Los Pueblos más Bonitos de España

In 1541 Charles V sold Pastrana to the widow of Diego Hurtado de Mendoza, and under her descendants, the dukes of Pastrana, this Alcarria town had its golden age: they founded the collegiate church and, with Saint Teresa of Ávila, two Carmelite convents. The Princess of Éboli spent her last years confined in her own Ducal Palace, and the Renaissance core has been a protected historic ensemble since 1966.

Highlights

The Ducal Palace, where the Princess of Éboli was held until 1592 (ES)
The collegiate church, home to Flemish tapestries of Afonso V (ES)
The Fuente de los Cuatro Caños, a four-spouted fountain built in 1588
Convento de San José, founded by Saint Teresa, on her pilgrimage route
Alcarria honey and yemas de Santa Teresa sweets (ES)

Text adapted from Wikipedia (Pastrana, Pastrana, Spain, Pastrana (Guadalajara)), Wikivoyage (Pastrana). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Population: 971

Things to see

Bolarque Dam

Events through the year

San Antón Religious · 17 JanuaryBlessing of animals at the hermitage, then chorizo, oranges and sweets
Feast of Saint Sebastian Religious · 20 JanuaryPatronal procession; eve with migas, gachas and the Ronda de los quintos
Feria Apícola de Castilla-La Mancha Fairs and markets · Second week of MarchSpain's main beekeeping fair, with Alcarria honey and equipment
Holy Week Religious · Holy WeekProcessions of the Pasos, the Silence and the Calvary
Fiesta de Los Mayos Seasonal · 30 AprilMayos songs and jotas, then visits to crosses decked with flowers
Corpus Christi Religious · Corpus ChristiProcession with the banners of all the town's brotherhoods
Festival Ducal de Pastrana Historical · Mid-JulyCultural festival recreating the Golden Age in the ducal town
Virgen de la Asunción Religious · 15 AugustBulls, pelota, verbenas, procession and mass
Feast of Saint Teresa of Jesus Religious · 15 OctoberMass and procession for the town's patron saint