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All Spain Urueña Urueña

Urueña

This charming, medieval walled village is Spain's first "book town."

Urueña, Spain

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Clare
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The Book Town.   Teo Moreno Moreno/Alamy
The Book Town.   Teo Moreno Moreno/Alamy
The view from inside the town.   Jose Luis Cernadas Iglesias/cc by 2.0
Urueña wall.   hadaly / Atlas Obscura User
The book town.   Luis Zamarreño Cosme/cc by-nd 2.0
Book town   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
Urueña.   hadaly / Atlas Obscura User
Welcome to Urueña sign.   hadaly / Atlas Obscura User
A sign for the book town.   Luis Rogelio HM/cc by-sa 2.0
Arco de entrada a Urueña   sanprica / Atlas Obscura User
Calle Catahuevos   sanprica / Atlas Obscura User
Maqueta villa de Urueña   sanprica / Atlas Obscura User
Museo de Campanas   sanprica / Atlas Obscura User
Second hand book stall   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
Urueña   sanprica / Atlas Obscura User
The wall, Urueña   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
Workshop   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
Urueña, past meets present   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Urueña, Spain is a small town in the province of Valladolid, Castille y Leon. The wall that wraps around the sleepy medieval settlement dates from the 12th and 13th centuries. Many of the centuries-old structures have been restored to give the city a strong sense of Old World ambiance. But that’s not what draws people to its quaint streets.

In 2007, Urueña went one step further to enhance its charm, becoming the first villa del libro (Book Town) in Spain. It's now home to 12 bookstores—and only about 200 people. 

Today, its gnarled, narrow streets are lined with book-related hubs that specialize in topics from children's books to wine to bullfighting. There are second-hand bookshops, libraries, museums, and cultural centers all dedicated to books, publishing, and printing.

While there, you can do more than just purchase books. Its shops host workshops about topics like bookbinding and calligraphy, as well as vibrant festivals and readings throughout the year. Maps of all the book sights are posted throughout the town, making it easy for bibliophiles to pop from one bookish paradise to another.

Aside from the book-related wonders, Urueña itself is beautifully situated and has been well-maintained and restored. There is a walkway atop the medieval wall that stretches almost all around the town, offering delightful views of the stone streets and houses inside the wall and the gorgeous fields and vineyards that surround the settlement.

Related Tags

Medieval Villages Bookstores Books Bibliomania

Know Before You Go

Parking is readily available outside the town walls. As the village is so small, you can easily spend a day exploring its many bookstores and book-related shops. Keep in mind that like in most places in Spain, the shops and sights mostly close from 2 to 4 p.m.

Community Contributors

Added By

hadaly

Edited By

Kerry Wolfe, Xavixavir, sanprica

  • Kerry Wolfe
  • Xavixavir
  • sanprica

Published

December 5, 2018

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Sources
  • http://www.xn--uruea-rta.es/
  • https://www.alternativetravelers.com/uruena-spains-book-village/
  • https://allthatsinteresting.com/uruena-spain
  • http://www.provinciadevalladolid.com/es/pierdas/villa-libro/
  • https://www.travelandleisure.com/culture-design/books/uruena-spain-bookstores
Urueña
Urueña
Spain
41.728335, -5.201224
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