Located in the South-East of the province of Burgos and some 34 miles away
from its capital, the town is in the middIe of the Arlanza ValIey next to the sierras of
Urbión and La Demanda. Capital of the homonymous district it is the direct heir to the
ancient Alfoz de Lara.
Historically we date the foundation and the granting of its "fueros" (charters) in 974. This foundation is attributed to Garcí Fernández, Count of Castille, who decides to populate the Arlanza Valley to control the Muslim incursions. But we can find much older human settlements in Salas. In the 5th-3rd centuries BC there was a hill-fort (populated and fonified) in a hill clase to the town.
It belonged to a Celtiberian cribe, called the Pelendones, that lived in the upper course of the Arlanza and the surrounding mountains.
Later on, with the Romans, this hill-fort disappears but another settlement alises, not in a hill this time but by the shores of the Arlanza river. In this place, a Roman village will flourish by the 1 st century AC. After its foundation in 974, Gonzalo Gustios, Lord of these lands, lives in Salas, and passes into the popular culture together with his sons, the Seven Infantes of Lara, because of an ancient epic poem in which pan of their lives and their tragic death, in a Muslim ambush - from which only their heads carne back to Salas - are narrated.
St. Mary's Church.
15th century Gothic temple in which the most outstanding element is a 16th century Renaissance altarpiece by Diego Guillén and the chest with the remains of the heads of " The 7 Infantes de Lar a" and their tutor.
St. Cecily's Church.
14th-15th century Gothic temple with a 12th century Romanesque font. Outside we find the Romanesque main front of the now disappeared village of Mazariegos.
Palace of the Seven Infantes.
Gonzalo Gustios, father of the Seven Infantes of Lara built his Palace originally in this place. Today we find the Palacio Municipal de Cultura
(Municipal Palace of Culture), a beautifully landscaped small palace. The visitor can still find the walls with loopholes and two 14th century doors with pointed arches.
Archaeological and Palaeontological Museum.
lt consists of two rooms. The first room is dedicated to archaeology and the visitor can walk through the prehistory and history of the area of Salas. Several pieces from different cultures and ages, together with scale models and reconstructions are shown in this room in arder to provide a pleasant and didactic visit.
The second room, dedicated to the palaeontology, counts with fossils from the different geological periods of the area of Salas. But the most outstanding pan of the room is the amazing collection of fossils of dinosaurs there shown.
Fossil remains of herbivorous dinosaurs such as the Iguanodon or the Polacanthus, carnivorous like the Megalosaur and huge bones of sauropods like the diplodocus or the Brachiosaur. The collection of fossils of plants, fishes, crocodiles and turtles who shared the Valley of Salas with the dinosaurs 120 million years ago is quite important as well.
The Roman road.
There is a extremely well preserved section of the Roman road in Salas. This road went from La Rioja to the Northern plateau of Spain and it is believed to be me road Scipio Used on his way to me rebel Numancia. It was used as well by me well-feared Almanzor for bis incursions imo the Christian Kingdoms during me Middle Ages.
Peña Rota.
This Peña Rota (Broken Crag) is believed to have been a monastery of me High Middle Ages (10th cemury) because of its many holes.
Antropomorphic Graves.
On the way to St Mary's Church the visitor finds three big sarcophagus made of sandstone from me Middle Ages (10th century). There are some fossil trees from me times of the dinosaurs as well.
Due to the importance of cattle and sheep raising, it is a must to taste the veal and young lamb ("lechazo", as well as the typical sausages (pork loin, ham and sausage) and the many varieties of cheese. Exquisite confectionery.
ROUTES
BY CAR AND FOOT