Espinosa de los Monteros facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Espinosa de los Monteros
Municipality and town
Espinosa de los Monteros panoramic view, 1996
Flag Coat of arms
Location of Espinosa de los Monteros municipality in Burgos province
Espinosa de los Monteros Location in Spain
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Castile and León
Province	Burgos
Comarca	Las Merindades
Area
• Total	137.50 km2 (53.09 sq mi)
Elevation	762 m (2,500 ft)
Population  (2018)
• Total	1,696
• Density	12.335/km2 (31.946/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	09560
Demonym	Espinosiego/a

Espinosa de los Monteros is a small town and a municipality in Spain. It is located in the province of Burgos, which is part of the Castile and León region. About 1,700 people live here.

The town is spread out in a large countryside area. It sits at the edge of the Cantabrian Mountains.

Exploring the History of Espinosa de los Monteros

The first people lived in this area a very long time ago, during the Bronze and Iron Ages. The modern town started when Alfonso VI of León gave it a special town charter. This helped to rebuild the town after it was damaged in a war in the early 11th century.

Espinosa de los Monteros is famous for being the home of the "Gentlemen of the Chamber." This was an ancient Royal Guard, like a special group of protectors for the king. They were founded in 1008 by Sancho García of Castile.

Some people believe that the family name of the famous philosopher Baruch Spinoza came from Espinosa. His father, Miguel de Espinoza, might have had roots here.

During the Napoleonic Wars, a big battle happened here. It was called the Battle of Espinosa de los Monteros. This battle took place on November 10 and 11, 1808. The French army, led by General Victor, won against the Spanish army.

Discovering Main Sights in Espinosa de los Monteros

Chiloeches Palace (17th century)

Espinosa de los Monteros has several interesting old buildings and churches to see:

• Palacio de Chiloeches: This palace was built around 1600 in the Renaissance style. It has a special front with two towers that have small spires on top.
• Church of St. Eulalia: A historic church in the town.
• Church of St. Cecilia: Another important church.
• Torre de los Velascos: An old tower.
• Torre Berrueza: Another historic tower.
• Torre de los Monters: This tower dates back to the 14th century.
• Fernández-Villa palace: A palace built in the Renaissance style.
• Torre de los Azulejos: This tower was built in the 16th century.

Economy and Local Life in Espinosa de los Monteros

In the past, many people in Espinosa de los Monteros worked in military jobs. Raising animals, especially cattle, was also very important. The town was a key place for transportation because of its location.

Today, the economy focuses on making dairy products. It is also a center for shops and services for the local area. The town is growing a small tourism industry. People visit to enjoy the beautiful mountains. In winter, when it snows a lot, there is a small ski resort. It is popular with people from nearby cities who come for day trips or weekend fun.

Picón Blanco: A Mountain Challenge

Picón Blanco is a tall mountain peak in the municipality. It is 1512 meters high. There is a road that goes up the mountain to an old military base. This road is famous in professional road bicycle racing.

It has been used many times in the Vuelta a Burgos race. It has also been part of the Vuelta a España race twice. The climb is 7.9 kilometers long. It has a steep average slope of 9.1%, meaning it gains 721 meters in height.

Winners of the Picón Blanco Climb

Year	Stage winner	Race leader
2021	Rein Taaramäe	Rein Taaramäe
2024	Edward Dunbar	Primož Roglič

Famous People from Espinosa de los Monteros

• Juan de Salazar de Espinosa (1508–1560): He was an explorer. He founded Asunción, which is the capital city of Paraguay.
• Efrén Llarena (born 1995): He is a professional rally car driver.

See also

In Spanish: Espinosa de los Monteros para niños