Portal de Turismo de Castilla y León

Welcome to the River Duratón Gorges Park House.

As with the other park houses located all over the region of Castile and Leon, this is the recommended gateway to these natural areas. The staff at this interpretation centre will inform you about the Park and help you plan your visit.

It provides information on iconic species and habitats to help you identify and appreciate the cultural and natural heritage in these places in a respectful way, and by doing so foster the conservation and appreciation of biodiversity and cultural heritage.

The River Duratón Gorges Park House was formerly the Church of Santiago. The entrance is located to the rear.

The church ceased to be a parish church in 1864. At that time, this entrance had a portico in the Romanesque style similar to the one at the church of El Salvador, but it was removed when the street was widened in 1867. The figure over the door, which does not represent the apostle Saint James, but is instead believed to be Saint John, comes from the old church of Saint John.

The territory was designated a Natural Park in 1989, and a short time later, in 1992, the decision was made to rebuild the church of Santiago, which had become derelict in the 1930s, in order to house the Interpretation Centre. The landscape formed by the river Caslilla, which flows south of Sepúlveda and the mountains of the Sierra de Guadarrama, rise up in front of the church.

Go into the House.

Upon entering, the first thing you will find is a map of the Network of Natural Spaces and the River Duratón Gorges Park on the wall to your right.

Castile and Leon is one of the largest regions in Europe, and has plentiful natural wealth. Thanks to its strategic geographic location and varied topography, the region of more than 94,000 square kilometres contains an extraordinary biological and scenic diversity, which provides a refuge for numerous endangered species.

The Network of Natural Spaces of Castile and Leon, known by its acronym "REN", was established with the aim of preserving this vast natural heritage in 1991. The REN is an outstanding example of the region's ecosystems in an optimal state of conservation, and at the same time it highlights sustainable development practices.

The source of the river Duratón is near Somosierra, and specifically in the waterfall known as "La Chorrera de los Litueros", located in the Community of Madrid on the border with Castile and Leon. It immediately enters the province of Segovia, where it runs for most of its length of 106 kilometres. When the first waters from the river reach the Sepulveda mountains, they begin to flow along the folds formed by limestone rock. Over the millennia, the river carved out the rock, forming the canyons of the Duratón. Continuing its course through the area around Fuentidueña, the river reaches the province of Valladolid and flows into the Duero River in the town of Peñafiel, located in the heart of the Ribera del Duero wine region.

The River Duratón Gorges Natural Park was created in 1989. After the law was passed, it was decided to restore the ruins of the Church of Santiago to make the building into the interpretation centre. Two years later, in 1991, this natural area joined the Natura 2000 Network, and was designated a Special Protection Area for Birds (SPAB) and a Site of Community Interest (SCI). In 1994, the centre opened its doors as a Nature Interpretation Centre, later renamed Park House, and began its environmental education and information work.

The Natural Park today covers an area of 5,037 hectares.

Next, in front of you, is the information desk where the staff will help you. Behind the counter, you will find the green store, where you can purchase typical local products and a souvenir of your visit.

The toilets are located in a corridor to the right of the counter.

Next to the entrance to this corridor, there is a shelf with brochures on the left and a blue panel with information signs on the right.

Panels divide the room as you walk through it, creating a zigzag corridor that recreates the River Duratón gorges.

To your right, as you enter the gorges, the brown panel presents information and images of the River Duratón.

To understand how this landscape was formed, you have to go back around 600 million years. An enormous sea covered the continents in prehistoric times. Large quantities of particles of limestone, marl, sand and other sediments accumulated on the seabed over millions of years.

This was followed by the Hercynian Orogeny, during which part of the Iberian Peninsula was covered by a shallow sea, the Tethys Sea. About 200 million years ago, these tectonic movements caused the sediments to fold, and the rocks on which they rested rose to the surface due to various pressures from inside the earth. This led to the formation of an extensive mountain range, which stretched from what is now Galicia to the Sierra Morena mountains.

After about 70 million years of tectonic activity, there was a peaceful period that lasted about 165 million years. The mountain range was almost completely eroded during this period due to the action of wind and water. Some of the resulting sediments were deposited back into the Tethys Sea. This era also saw the coastline of the Tethys Sea move back and forth, leading to deposits of fresh calcareous sediments.

Subsequently, about 40 million years ago, the Earth experienced movements once again, marking the beginning of the Alpine Orogeny. Most of the mountains that exist around the world today were formed at this time. In the Iberian Peninsula, they included the Pyrenees, the Cantabrian Mountain Range, the Betic System and the Central System, where the Guadarrama mountains and the source of the Duratón River are located. The calcareous sediments in this region were folded during this process, shaping the landscape as we see it today.

About 2 million years ago, valleys began to form through which water would flow, creating the hydrological network.

It was in this context that the Duratón River began to flow between valleys and folds. Upon reaching the Sepúlveda limestone massif, the river began to carve out the canyon, thanks to the phenomenon known as karstification. The highly porous limestone rock allowed water to seep through easily, creating an underground channel beneath the riverbed. As the erosion continued, the river reached the cavity formed by this underground channel, which increased its depth.

One of the most outstanding geological formations in the Natural Park is the abandoned meander. The river has carved out pronounced meanders, known here as "sickles". This name comes from the resemblance of the curves carved by the river to the tool used when working in the fields.

These meanders become increasingly wider, and one of them was cut off as the river shortened its course due to erosion, leaving one of the bends without any water.

On the left side of the panel, you can find a sample of dolomite. Shells, molluscs and fossils are displayed opposite the rock.

Following the panel, there is an entrance into an exact reproduction of a cave.

The karst landscape, characterised by striking rock formations, is the result of water's erosion on limestone rock. This phenomenon is known as karstification.

Karstification takes place when water combines with carbon dioxide present in the air to form carbonic acid. This carbonic acid dissolves limestone rock by transforming calcium carbonate, which is practically insoluble, into calcium bicarbonate. The water falling on the limestone rock seeps through cracks and holes, shaping the terrain.

The caves and canopies created by karstification have been very important for the civilisations that have lived along the Duratón River. Some of the oldest cave paintings, dating back more than 10,000 years to the beginning of the Neolithic period, are located in various canopies and caves all along the canyon. The canopies are large ledges that provide shelter, but are not deep like caves.

The cave is an exact replica of the Siete Altares cave, located near the Villaseca bridge in the Natural Park. It is natural in origin, and is believed to have been a place of worship since Neolithic times, with altars carved at that time. Used by the Arevaci and Romans in Sepúlveda, it is considered the first Christian temple in Segovia, and was inhabited by Visigothic hermit monks in the seventh century. It has four altars carved in rock with semi-circular arches, and was declared a Site of Cultural Interest in 1994.

One of the altars carved in the stone in the cave has been reproduced. It is rounded, with rhomboids around it.

Next, there is a kind of easel displaying images of cave paintings and information. Underneath, tied to some sticks, the skin of a skinned animal on which there are also some drawings.

These caves also play a crucial ecological role as they provide shelter for bats. Although they often suffer from a bad reputation, bats are essential to ecosystems as they feed on flying insects, reducing the risk of pests that are harmful to forests and human health. They come out at night and get their bearings using echolocation, emitting inaudible sounds that bounce off objects to help them calculate their location. There are 23 species of bats in the Duratón Gorges, including the greater mouse-eared bat, the common bent-wing bat, common pipistrelle, Savi's pipistrelle, the grey long-eared bat, greater horseshoe bat and the greater noctule bat.

Leave the cave.

When you leave the cave, on the left hand side, you will find some displays of the fauna and flora of the Duratón River.

The banks of the Duratón River create microclimates in some areas by providing shelter from inclement weather due to the surrounding canyons. There is a remarkable diversity of tree species on the river bank itself, including the willow, alder, ash, black poplar and white poplar. Although those are the most common species, some areas are home to the Montpellier maple, lime, walnut and even elm trees, and the latter is being replanted by the Castile and Leon Regional Government after being decimated by graphiosis, a disease caused by the fungus Ophiostoma ulmi. The river plain is also home to hawthorns, rose hips, blackthorns, peonies and various orchids.

If you walk quietly in the area, you may hear birds such as the robin, Cetti's warbler and the oriole. Ducks, grey herons and kingfishers can be seen on the river. The white-throated dipper can even be seen during the winter.

Various species such as barbels and trout live in the waters of the Duratón River, as well as other smaller species, and carp are predominant in the area near the reservoir. However, Louisiana crawfish and signal crayfish, which are invasive alien species, as well as barbel and trout, are the main items in the diet of the otter, a common mammal in the Natural Park. Otters act as bioindicators, showing the quality of the aquatic environment and the absence of pollution in the waters of the Duratón River.

The otters are facing a challenge due to the competition posed by the American mink, which is an alien invasive species introduced into the rivers as a result of accidents at farms. This mink competes with otters for food and territory, and although otters can resist them due to their size, their population may be displaced or reduced. The American mink population is increasing and heading north, where the last European mink on the Iberian Peninsula live. This population must be brought under control before it colonises all the rivers and threatens the survival of the European mink in Spain.

The Castile and Leon Regional Government is working on a project to bring the American mink under control. Environmental officers place selective traps to capture and remove them from the rivers in order to prevent the population from increasing, and to protect the European mink populations in the region.

On the back wall of the cave, there are panels with images and information about the flora found in the sunny and shady areas, as well as the plants that grow in its cavities and fissures.

A large proportion of the River Duratón Gorges Natural Park consists of limestone moors, uplands in the upper part of the canyons with large areas of rock. These regions experience adverse conditions, such as low rainfall and extreme temperatures, with dry heat in summer and cold nights in winter, making it difficult for vegetation to grow. In the Middle Ages, the area around the shrine of San Frutos was known as the Duratón Desert, although it was not barren; the flora and fauna adapted to these harsh conditions.

There are junipers, cade, prickly junipers, black hawthorn and rose hips, and the ground is covered with aromatic plants such as thyme, lavender and French lavender.

The Duratón moor is important because it is the home of Dupont's lark, an endangered bird known as "the ghost of the moor" due to its ability to blend in with its surroundings. Along with this species, various other types of birds live here, including crested larks, greater short-toed larks, chalk-browed mockingbirds and wheatears, which feed on seeds and insects that are also eaten by reptiles. Ocellated lizards, lizards and snakes are common in this landscape.

Local shepherds used to roam these moors, taking advantage of the vegetation to feed their sheep. Although the number of cattle has decreased, large herds can still be found grazing on the moor, and roasted suckling lamb is one of the typical delicacies in the region.

On the left side of the panel, there are some rectangles with the fauna found in the cliffs, and especially the birds.

At the top, there are several photographs of the shrine of San Frutos, buildings perched on the ledges and the ruins of the church of San Juan.

The limestone rock walls that form the Duratón canyon create a unique ecosystem, in which the plant and animal species have adapted to living in hanging conditions. The rock plants of the Natural Park include rock tea, which has medicinal digestive, anti-inflammatory and prevents gases. Other plants include the navel of Venus, traditionally used for its healing properties, and henbit, which are even found on the outer wall of the church.

The world of rupicolous birds is most unusual, as they take advantage of ledges and hollows to make their nests. The griffon vulture is common in the River Duratón Gorges, but other species also live there, including the peregrine falcon, eagle owl, red-billed choughs and jackdaws, and Egyptian vultures. Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente conducted an experiment with an Egyptian vulture chick named Gaspar, and he showed that its ability to break a false ostrich egg with pieces of stone is not learned by imitation, but is instead instinctive behaviour.

Further to the left, you will find a panel overlooked by the silhouette of a vulture in flight.

Opposite this panel, there is an audiovisual display that talks about the ecosystem in the area. Below it, a recreation of a group of griffon vultures eating a carcass is displayed on a large table.

The griffon vulture is the most typical animal of the River Duratón Gorges Natural Park due to its large population. These birds nest on the ledges of the cliffs, forming communities with nests on the cliff face. Over time, the population has grown, and together with the vultures in the nearby canyons, it has become one of the largest populations of griffon vultures in Europe.

The griffon vulture is one of the four vultures that breed in the Iberian Peninsula. Three of the four vultures can be found in the River Duratón Gorges: the griffon vulture and the Egyptian vulture, which breed in the area, and the black vulture, which arrives here from the Guadarrama mountains. The fourth vulture, the bearded vulture, lives in the Pyrenees and the Cantabrian mountains.

Griffon vultures feed on carrion, mainly dead animals and their remains, and participate in scavenger hunts, in which several vultures get together to feed. Despite what people think, griffon vultures have no sense of smell, but instead use their keen eyesight to find carrion. To find out if the animal is dead, they watch other smaller scavengers, such as magpies, crows and Egyptian vultures, which approach it first. These animals peck at the soft parts of the carcass. The vultures see what is happening, associate it with the presence of food, and descend to the ground.

There is no sexual dimorphism or size differences between young and adult griffon vultures, which creates problems at feeding time. The hungriest is usually the first to eat, and the distribution of food can lead to fights between the vultures. Once the vultures have had their fill, other smaller scavengers return to clean up the remains, such as magpies, crows, kites and Egyptian vultures. This ensures that all the carcass is eaten, and the area is left free of meat and offal.

The griffon vulture's annual courtship begins in October, although the pairs are stable. During courtship, they perform coordinated flights and dives above the females. They then come to the nest, which is usually the same as the one in previous year, and continue to court each other while adding fresh material to the nest. Mating takes place in the nest or perched on the top of the cliffs. The female lays a single egg in January, and both parents take turns to incubate it over 52 days. The first three months after hatching are critical, and one parent is always in the nest while the other forages for food. The parents protect and care for the chick, providing warmth and shade. In the fourth month, the parents leave in search of food and the hatchling begins to exercise in the nest. The young become independent in late July and August, and the pair leaves the nest until the next courtship season begins in October.

Interestingly, the young are nomadic and travel as far as North Africa before settling in one place when they reach sexual maturity at 4 or 5 years of age. Afterwards, they are likely to remain there for the rest of their lives, unless they have problems that force them to look for a new home.

Several jars containing different aromatic herbs are displayed to the right of this vulture display, on a shelf made from a wooden pallet. Pick them up, smell them and try to work out what they are.

You will find the measurements of the different birds of prey that roam the park on a paper panel on the right.

Below the sign, on a ledge, there is an example of a nest made of branches and a model of the cliffs where these animals live.

Keep going up the ramp towards the main altar of the old church.

In the middle of the ramp, there is a niche on the wall on the right, where 12 different types of wood are displayed.

As you go up, you will reach a glazed floor, through which you can see the tombstones carved by master stonemasons of Sepulveda that cover the tombs of prominent figures in the town, and which were found during the reconstruction of the church.

You are now next to the apse of the church of Santiago, which is a unique construction of stone and brick in Mudejar style, which is unusual in Sepúlveda, which is known for being one of the centres of Romanesque architecture in Segovia.

To the left is the pulpit, carved in Sepúlveda's characteristic pink limestone. Opposite the apse, at the opposite end and in the upper part of the church, is the choir, which was completely rebuilt after the restoration, as nothing was left of the original.

The visit continues along the walkway leading to the crypt.

All along this glass platform, there are panels with information about the traditional crafts of the Duratón area.

Agriculture and livestock farming played a crucial role in Sepulveda's local economy. The farmers used the land near the Caslilla, San Juan and Duratón rivers to cultivate vegetable gardens, using the constant access to water to irrigate vegetables and fruit trees. They used the moors, which were free of rocks, for dry crops such as wheat, barley, rye and almond trees. The town of Sebúlcor, in the south-west of the Natural Park, made its living from logging and extracting resin from resin pine trees. The resin collectors made incisions in the trunks to collect the sap, which was then processed in factories to produce turpentine and rosin.

Sepúlveda is well known for its stonemasonry, including the Sepúlveda Pink or Pink Stone, a unique rock which has pink tones due to its high iron oxide content. The town's stonemasons used hammers and chisels to carve stones to decorate churches, castles and manor houses. Emiliano Barral, a stonemason from Sepulveda, became famous in Spain and internationally due to his use of pink limestone in iconic sculptures, such as his busts of Isidro Barral and Antonio Machado. The latter was immortalised in a poem that praises the characteristics of the stone.

Some of the tools that were used in all his work are on display behind the panels.

In the centre, a series of urns form a pyramidal structure with images and information on the food chain of the animals in the area.

At the top are the superpredators.

Now head towards the ramp that continues upwards.

Along the railing, there are panels with more information about the fauna and flora of the River Duratón Gorges.

At the end of the ramp, you will reach the burial crypt of the old church of Santiago.

There are approximately twenty tombs in the crypt, which are carved directly into the rock and are anthropomorphic in shape. All the graves face west, suggesting they believed that burying their dead up with their heads in that direction would let them witness the sunrise every day, and facilitate their journey to the afterlife. Excavations revealed that the necropolis extends to the west, with at least two more crypts of a similar size. No remains have been found to the east, which means it is unlikely that the necropolis extends in that direction, where the tower is currently located. Despite the necropolis being older, the barrel vault is nevertheless thought to be of pre-Romanesque origin, dating from the tenth and eleventh centuries.

On the left hand side, leading to the crypt, there is a narrow corridor with steps leading to the choir.

The choir is in a square room at the end of this corridor on the left.

The choir, used by singers during mass, has been completely rebuilt, replacing the original wooden structure that had completely disappeared. The extent of the ruins as far as the arch of the apse and the new stones placed during the reconstruction is shown at this point. This choir commemorates the town of Sepúlveda and its traditions in panels, including the celebration of the Diablillo festival on the night of 23 August. The festival has its roots in a miracle performed by the apostle Bartholomew in India, where he freed a young girl who was possessed by the devil. The tradition includes the descent of the "diablillos" down the stairs of the church of San Bartolomé, running around and hitting those attending with brooms. Sepúlveda's traditional festival begins after this celebration.

Other panels also focus on the town's squares, streets and corners, well-known houses, flowers, bushes and trees, and other local festivals.

Exit the choir through the same door you entered and cross to the opposite room. You will come to a room in which there is a library.

There are wooden stairs on the right hand side as you enter, which lead to an upper floor. Various man-made nests to help the birds roost are displayed here.

At the top of the stairs, just at the end of the stairs, you will find a double door on your left hand side, which is the emergency exit.

Opposite, at the end of the room, another door opens into the audiovisual room.

This audio clip concludes your visit to the River Duratón Gorges Park House. We hope you have enjoyed the House, its landscapes, the wealth of its fauna, flora and orography that create a unique and idyllic ecosystem for the survival of the imperial eagle, which is also reflected in the local products and customs.

To leave the House, go back down the stairs to the library and enter the choir. Cross the choir to a staircase leading down to the reception area.

If you would like more information, please contact the reception desk or ask any of the staff at the Park House.

Thank you for your visit.