This Secret Medieval Town In Spain Wants More Americans To Visit!

With anti-visitor protests erupting across Spain, from the historic alleys of Barcelona to the palm-lined streets of Tenerife, we get it if you don’t feel exactly welcome as an American in the popular European country.

After all, stepping out of your hotel to find a ‘Tourists Go Home’ mural painted in bright red colors, or getting sprayed with water as you dine alfresco down by La Barceloneta hardly screams ‘Spanish hospitality’, but as with everything else, there’s always an exception to the rule:

One of the most beautiful towns in Spain is, in fact, desperate for more tourists, and guess what, most of them hardly know it exists:

This Gorgeous Little Medieval Town Wants You To Visit

Sitting at the confluence of the rivers Tera and Castro, Puebla de Sanabria is a well-preserved medieval gem home to just over 1,000 permanent residents, and one that’s been largely shielded from the rising levels of tourism that Spain has seen lately.

That’s not necessarily a good thing, at least not for the local economy.

Typically ignored by most tourists, who seem to know Spain for Madrid and Barcelona alone, Sanabria has struggled to draw in guests for two main reasons.

First, it’s located in the province of Zamora, right on the border with Portugal: not exactly conveniently placed on the way to any major tourist destination, so unless you’ve set out to visit this particular region, you wouldn’t typically swing by.

Secondly, Zamora was recently devastated by fires, causing expected tourist arrivals to decrease by a damning 40% in August. Needless to say, the anti-tourist craze has not exactly spread to Puebla de Sanabria.

Now, the municipality is urging visitors not to ‘forget’ it:

What’s Special About Sanabria?

One of the oldest settlements in the province of Zamora, with a rich history spanning thousands of years, Puebla de Sanabria is a storybook town still surrounded by walls, formerly used to protect it from assailants, now an impenetrable barrier against the summer fires.

Whereas the countryside surrounding was scorched, the cobble-paved alleys, leafy squares bordered by historic cafes, and imposing Renaissance castle were left untouched.

The castle itself, built back in the 15th century—drawbridge, imposing towers, moat and all—is perhaps Sanabria’s main attraction, perched on a hill overlooking the maze of houses below. It now houses a small museum highlighting its military past.

At its feet, the Historic-Artistic Quarter (Conjunto Histórico-Artístico) looks like it’s hardly changed one bit since the High Middle Ages: picture winding roads, stone houses older than your home country, and idyllic plazas exuding old-world charm.

The most important of this series of squares, Plaza Mayor, is dominated by a 12th-century Church of Santa María del Azogue. Its ornate portal can even be seen from several of the side streets that feed into the main square.

What To See In Sanabria This Fall

There’s no discussing Puebla de Sanabria without bringing up its main yearly event: the Medieval Fair, or Feria Medieval de Puebla de Sanabria.

It takes place around August 15, so it’s a little late for that, but you can definitely add this most gorgeous little village to your Spain bucket list and check it out for yourself next summer: expect historical reenactments, street performances, and rows upon rows of taverns serving medieval grub.

This season, however, you have another equally exciting reason to be making the trip up north to this unheard-of town—other than, naturally, the postcard-ready center:

Sanabria Lake, straddling the Portuguese border, is the largest glacial lake in Spain, and much like Madrid’s leafy boulevards, it’s a must-see in the fall.

From the amber leaves that cover the trees distributed along the banks, to the beautiful nature walks, and of course, the mirror-like waters, it’s (yet another) hidden gem of Europe awaiting discovery.

The best part is, you can easily get there by car—it takes around 15-20 minutes—or a 2-hour hike from town.

Delicious Food At Affordable Prices

Steeped in medieval charm, Sanabria naturally serves dishes as flavorful as its history is captivating, and meals here will rarely cost you over $20.

In Mesón Abelardo, you can sample octopus with potatoes, beef and pork stews, and the signature local white beans with chorizo, with some epic Old Town views.

Plaza de Armas, a storied pub-style eatery in the Historic Center, focuses on grilled meats, local beef, and seasonal mushrooms. You can also get the classic Sanabria beans here.

Our personal favorite, however, has to be Parador de Puebla de Sanabria: all the classic Castilian dishes are on the menu, from roasted lamb to salted cod to the stewed beans, and it’s all prepared with locally-sourced ingredients.

Answer Sanabria’s Call

Puebla de Sanabria is one of those places you don’t want to rush by. It’s somewhere you go to unwind, enjoy the slow-paced village life, sample different foods, and take in the timeworn vibe.

Plus, this is an open invite you just don’t want to turn down.

If you’re asking us, there’s nowhere better to stay than the rustic, full-of-character Posada Real La Pascasia: double rooms start from $91-a-night, and the property is equipped with a bar and its own restaurant, for the odd night you don’t fancy walking into town for dinner.

Quaint as Sanabria is, you’d think it’s a lot harder to get to than the average Spanish city. In reality, there are daily direct trains from Madrid (Chamartin station) to Sanabria (Alta Velocidad Station), which is situated only 4.3 miles from the village itself.

One-way tickets start from $32, and you can purchase them directly from Renfe.

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.