Torre de los Cantimplor

Torre de los Cantimplor is a medieval fortified tower-house in Espinosa de los Monteros, a small town in the Las Merindades area of Burgos province, famous for its dense cluster of noble stone towers.

How do you get there?

The tower stands on the edge of the historic quarter of Espinosa de los Monteros, in the Berrueza district, on Calle Pizarro. Espinosa lies in the northern part of Burgos province, within Las Merindades, a region dotted with medieval defensive towers. A local heraldry-themed walking route runs through Espinosa itself, guiding visitors from one stone tower to the next, so Cantimplor is best seen as part of a short walk rather than a standalone stop. Most visitors park in the town centre and cover the route on foot.

What will you see?

Cantimplor has a rectangular plan measuring roughly 18 by 10 metres, with walls up to 1.20 metres thick — proportions typical of the fortified noble houses built across this part of Castile. The building has been truncated over time: it lost its uppermost level, including the battlements it is thought to have once had, and local accounts suggest it originally stood several metres taller. Its most striking feature is the south-facing entrance, framed by a pointed (ogival) arch built from finely cut ashlar voussoirs. Several arrow slits survive on the facade, while higher up sit two small twin windows known as ajimeces, each topped with a carved coat of arms. Those shields are linked to the Alvarado Bracamonte and Ribero families and may have been added in the 16th century, after the tower's original construction.

Who owned the tower?

The ownership history of Cantimplor runs through several noble families of Espinosa. Some sources connect the tower to the abbots of Vivanco, while others point to the Angulo Vivanco Ortiz family, who also held the neighbouring Valanto tower. The coats of arms on the twin windows suggest a later link to the Alvarado Bracamonte and Ribero lineages. Today the tower remains privately owned by the Martínez-Sainz de la Maza family, so visits are limited to viewing the exterior from the street.

Why does it stand out among Espinosa's towers?

Espinosa de los Monteros is known for six noble stone towers jointly declared a Bien de Interés Cultural — a nationally protected heritage asset — in 1949, and Cantimplor is one of them. Sources disagree on its exact construction date: some place it in the 13th century, others tie it to the wider group of Espinosa towers raised between the 14th and 15th centuries. Either way, Cantimplor formed one of the town's three main defensive strongholds in the Middle Ages, alongside the Los Monteros and Los Velasco towers. The town's own name still recalls the Monteros de Espinosa, the royal bodyguard historically drawn from the area's noble families.

When is the best time to visit?

Since the tower is privately owned and closed to interior visits, the best time to come is spring or summer, when longer days and steadier weather make it easy to walk Espinosa's heraldry trail and take in the facades of its towers one by one. It's worth checking local tourism information beforehand, as access along parts of the route can vary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you go inside Torre de los Cantimplor? No — the tower is privately owned by the Martínez-Sainz de la Maza family, so visits are limited to viewing it from outside.

How old is the tower? Sources vary, placing its construction anywhere between the 13th and 15th centuries. It belongs to the group of six Espinosa towers declared a protected heritage asset in 1949.

What architectural details are worth looking for? The ogival-arched entrance built from finely cut stone, surviving arrow slits, and two twin windows bearing the coats of arms of the Alvarado Bracamonte and Ribero families.

Which families owned the tower? It has been linked to the abbots of Vivanco, the Angulo Vivanco Ortiz family, and the Alvarado Bracamonte and Ribero lineages; it now belongs to the Martínez-Sainz de la Maza family.

How do you reach the tower? It stands in the Berrueza district of Espinosa de los Monteros, on Calle Pizarro — drive to the town centre and continue on foot along the local heraldry walking route.