It is said, and given that I have visited it in winter, as far as I can attest, that Castillejo de Robledo, which is also among those fortunate places attributed to the cruel story of the Afrenta de Corpes, an episode in which the Counts of Carrión subjected the daughters of El Cid Campeador to punishment and humiliation, is the coldest town in Spain. Therefore, it is no surprise that, in addition to the excellence of its wines, the stew is also one of the star dishes of its gastronomy, which is worth tasting, especially if the traveler's spirit carries with it the advice of the poet Antonio Machado, who says: traveler, there is no path, the path is made by walking.
Walking through Castillejo de Robledo and its surroundings can be, apart from a fascinating cultural adventure, a time when you can let yourself be carried away by the charm of a 13th-century church and the ruins of a castle, which supposedly belonged to that medieval order of chivalry that, by its very nature, is a magnet that always attracts the most fantastic theories and speculations, the Order of the Temple. It can also be a good opportunity to test the mysteries of the supernatural and, in addition, have unconventional encounters.
Because here, in this peaceful town of Soria, bordering Segovia and suspiciously close to another place where the Templars are still remembered, Maderuelo and the beautiful Hermitage of the Vera Cruz, whose original paintings are in the Prado Museum in Madrid, still bear a vivid memory of the legend of the knight Vallejo: a Templar horseman, condemned for his licentious life and for having murdered the Master of the Order, who, unlike the Devil-possessed horseman in the famous North American legend of Sleepy Hollow, does not decapitate his victims, but can kill them with fright when his damned soul suddenly appears to them along these dark and lonely roads.
Se dice y dado que lo he conocido en invierno, por lo que puedo dar testimonio de ello, que Castillejo de Robledo, que, además, figura entre esos afortunados lugares que se atribuyen la cruel historia de la Afrenta de Corpes, episodio en el que los condes de Carrión sometieron a castigo y humillación a las hijas del Cid Campeador, es el pueblo más frío de España, por lo que no hay por qué sorprenderse, si aparte de la excelencia de sus vinos, es también el cocido uno de los platos estrella de su gastronomía, que merece la pena degustar, sobre todo, si el ánimo del viajero lleva implícito el consejo del poeta, Antonio Machado, que dice: caminante, no hay camino, se hace camino al andar.
Andar por Castillejo de Robledo y su entorno, puede ser, aparte de una fascinante aventura cultural, en la que dejarse llevar por el encanto de una iglesia del siglo XIII y las ruinas de un castillo, que, según se supone, pertenecieron a esa orden de caballería medieval que por propia idiosincrasia es todo un imán que polariza siempre las más fantásticas teorías y especulaciones, la Orden del Temple, una buena oportunidad para poner a prueba los misterios de lo sobrenatural y tener, por añadidura, encuentros poco convencionales.
Porque aquí, en este pacífico pueblo de Soria, lindante con Segovia y sospechosamente cerca de otro lugar donde todavía se recuerda a los templarios, Maderuelo y la hermosa ermita de la Vera Cruz, cuyas pinturas originales se encuentran en el Museo del Prado, de Madrid, todavía tienen muy presente la leyenda del vallejo caballero: un jinete templario, condenado por su vida licenciosa y por haber asesinado al Maestre de la Orden, que, a diferencia del jinete poseído por el Diablo, en la famosa leyenda norteamericana de Sleepy Hollow, no decapita a sus víctimas, pero sí puede matarlas del susto, cuando su alma condenada se les aparece repentinamente por estos umbríos y solitarios caminos.
NOTICE: Both the text and the accompanying photographs are my exclusive intellectual property and are therefore subject to my Copyright.
AVISO: Tanto el texto, como las fotografías que lo acompañan, son de mi exclusiva propiedad intelectual y por lo tanto, están sujetos a mis Derechos de Autor.
The tale of the condemned teMPlar rider Vallejo near Maderuelo and the Vera Cruz hermitage gave me chills. Your walk makes that legend feel close, like the roads still hold a breath from long ago. If I ever face that legned in the dark, I am bringing a bowl of hot stue as a charm.
Well, the surroundings of Castillejo are quite surprising, and exploring them at night can be an unusual experience, regardless of the legends or our beliefs. We must also remember that every legend always contains some underlying truth. The locals generally interpret it in their own way. But just in case, I wouldn't venture out on those lonely paths at night.
Your right, those paths have a vibe, and and the mind starts filling in the whispers. I dont blame you for skipping the night run, prudence beats bravado there. Daylight stroll with cocido as my brave charm, sound fair?
The last thing is essential: the stew is a fantastic dish, and if it's accompanied by the finest Ribera del Duero wines, the experience is sublime.