San Bernardo is a colonial hamlet in the Valladolid municipality of Valbuena de Duero, which dates back to 1950 when the original village, Santa María de Poyos (Guadalajara), was flooded by the waters of the Entrepeñas reservoir, creating a new settlement and giving each resident a piece of orchard to cultivate, a job that is still carried out today, as agriculture is their main means of subsistence.

San Bernardo writes its history next to the great cultural jewel of the Monastery of Santa María de Valbuena, a construction founded in 1143 to repopulate the Duero Valley with monks of the Cistercian order from Berdone (France). It is currently the headquarters of the “Las Edades del Hombre” Foundation.

This town, located on the right bank of the Duero river, is ideal for hiking along its banks (such as stage 12 of the Senda del Duero GR-14 from Peñafiel to Quintanilla de Onésimo). For this reason, a picnic area has been installed to facilitate this activity and others for the enjoyment of nature.

In addition, in San Bernardo you will be able to see one of the unique trees of the Ribera del Duero, the Enebro de la Virgen (Virgin’s Juniper) and the Holm Oak of the Monastery of Valbuena.

Climbing the hillside, on the edge of the moor, we find the cave of Brother Diego, shrouded in legend.

FESTIVALS:

• Commemoration of the creation of the village: second Saturday in July. This is a celebration based on the strengthening of the local identity and the vindication of its most significant features, remembering the first settler families.
• Festivities in honour of San Bernardo: 20 August and the days before or after (depending on the dates). Festivities in honour of the patron saint of the village.

San Bernardo’s local name: sanbernardinos.