Castilblanco de los Arroyos, an essential stop on the Ruta de la Plata.
Visit the beautiful town of Castilblanco de los Arroyos, which, as its name suggests, stands out for its whitewashed houses, clean fountains and stone washing basins. Founded after the Reconquest, it is located on the Vía de la Plata, at the gates of Seville’s Sierra Morena. It is a crucial stopover if you are travelling the Way of Saint James from Seville.
Castilblanco is also famous for the production of honey, which it also exports to Europe. Sample the wide variety of local confectionery products made with honey. As in any authentic mountain village, game meat and Iberian pork are core ingredients in its typical dishes.
However, there is more to this town than the delicious cuisine. Its historical heritage and festivals always attract hundreds of tourists, in particular the Pilgrimage in honour of San Benito, the patron saint of Castilblanco de los Arroyos. This saint is highly revered by locals and the wider public.
The most fun-filled event in Castilblanco de los Arroyos is undoubtedly the Fiesta del Agua, which is held in July. The whole town celebrates in the streets dumping water on each other to keep cool in the summer heat.
Last but not least, discover the town’s museum of wild animals from the five continents. Do not worry, they are all stuffed!
Come to Castilblanco de los Arroyos for an unforgettable experience.
Getting to Castilblanco de los Arroyos
If you travel by car from Seville, the fastest route is the A-8009 until you enter the A-8004, which passes through La Rinconada. In this town, take the A-8002 to Alcalá del Río and then continue along the A-8013 to Castilblanco de los Arroyos.
The town does not have a train station, but you can travel by bus from Plaza de Armas Bus Station in Seville.
Getting around
Discover the beautiful corners of this charming town on foot. There are also several hiking routes to enjoy the clean mountain air.
Reasons to visit
- Visit the Shrine to San Benito Abad and lose yourself in the peaceful surroundings. Many pilgrims visit the Shrine throughout the year.
- Did you know that this town once depended on the plant fibre industry for a living? You can learn more about this trade at the Ethnology Museum.
- Try Castilblanco de los Arroyos’ honey, especially the confectionery products made with this local product.
- Cool off in summer at the popular Fiesta del Agua. Fun is guaranteed.
- Do you like nature? Head to the Centro Andaluz ‘Fauna salvaje’ or Encinar de Escardiel farm school.
- Castilblanco de los Arroyos’ goat cheese is genuinely delicious.
- If you are travelling the Way of Saint James from Seville, you can rest here in a guesthouse with all kinds of amenities.
- Do you want to try a typical local delicacy? Sample las venteras, the most traditional dish.
- Do not miss the Curro Vázquez Flamenco Festival in July. It has been held for over 30 years.
What to see
You will love this beautiful town in the Corredor de la Plata. The first thing you will see as you enter the town is the monument to Cervantes. This town was the setting for his Exemplary Novels, A Story of Two Damsels.
Stroll through the streets and discover its charming features, such as the clean fountains and traditional stone basins. Some houses in the centre still preserve their original 16th-century Castilian façades. Do not be surprised to bump into the pilgrims travelling the Way of Saint James, as Castilblanco is part of the third stage of this route from Seville.
Go to the Plaza de la Iglesia and visit the El Divino Redentor Parish Church. This Mudejar temple is the town’s main religious monument. However, if you want to learn about the town’s past, visit the Casa de la Sierra. It is home to an ethnology museum dedicated to the plant fibre industry, the source of income for many locals during decades. Mattresses, chairs and sofas were stuffed with palm fibre. This trade ceased to be profitable in the 1980s with the advent of foam. The museum’s collections preserve the history of this trade. The town has built a monument to the palm tree to commemorate this former trade.
Two hiking routes are popular among locals. The first one is the 8-kilometre long Camino de Escardiel that takes you to the Shrine to the Virgen de Escardiel. The other route is 12 kilometres long and ends at the Shrine to San Benito Abad, the patron saint of the town. You will likely come across more than one devout person praying before this sculpture. The saint is significant for the people of Castilblanco. The Pilgrimage that takes place on the last Sunday of August ends here, at the Shrine.
Last but not least, visit the farm at the Centro Andaluz ‘Fauna Salvaje’. You will be amazed by their collection of over 200 stuffed animals from across the world.
Places to visit
- Casa de la Sierra / Municipal Ethnology Museum
- Shrine to Nuestra Señora de Escardiel
- Shrine to San Benito Abad
- Divino Salvador Parish Church
- Monuments in honour of Cervantes and The Story of Two Damsels, to the quarry worker, the palm tree and the pensioner
- Municipal Art Gallery
- Miguel Fisac Municipal Theatre
- Town Hall and façades of the Casa del Diezmo on Calle Ancha and old Castilian houses
- Centro Andaluz de Fauna Salvaje
Surroundings
Castilblanco de los Arroyos is about 37 kilometres from Seville, in the foothills of Sierra Morena. The town is part of Vía de la Plata tourist region. It holds great historical importance as an essential stopover on the Ruta de la Plata, which is today used by many pilgrims to reach Santiago de Compostela.
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