Castilla Termal Monasterio de Valbuena is a luxurious haven of wellness nestled among the fruitful vineyards of Ribera del Duero.

 

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The hotel is housed inside the historic Monasterio de Santa Maria de Valbuena, which was founded in 1143. The property was operated by monks for 700 years, until one day they mysteriously abandoned the monastery in the 19th century. During their tenure, the monks laid down the foundation of winemaking at the monastery, and the property continues to make its own wine with its vineyard that spans 4.5 hectares. The hotel produces a Ribera del Duero red wine made with 100% Tempranillo grapes, which is only sold at Castilla Termal hotels.

While the hotel takes up one wing, the rest of the monastery and connecting church is maintained by Fundación Las Edades de Hombre, and guests can receive reduced tickets to tour the other spaces of the Monastery of Santa Maria de Valbuena. Given that the church is located inside the monastery, plus the availability of both historic and contemporary event spaces within the hotel, Castilla Termal Monasterio de Valbuena is an immensely popular wedding venue that remains booked all year round.

The hotel maintains the historic structure and ambience in the guest rooms and throughout the property. Many of the rooms feature original stone walls and wood beams of the monastery. The design is quaint and minimalist while still providing all the modern amenities guests require, such as: a Nespresso machine and smart TV. It’s highly worthwhile to opt for a room with a balcony with a pretty view of the Duero River, wineries, and hills that surround the hotel.

Castilla Termal Monasterio de Valbuena was the first 100% sustainable property under the Castilla Termal brand. The hotel only uses biomass generators for power and heat production and does not use single-use plastics. The wineries are entirely organic and chemical-free, as well as the extensive garden on the property, where much of the produce served in the restaurants comes from. The hotel even takes care of a nearly extinct breed of black Castilian hens, which guests can see roaming around outside next to the garden.

Converso is the hotel’s fine dining restaurant headed by Michelin chef Miguel Angel de la Cruz. Through its tasting menus, Converso offers a gastronomic journey through Ribera del Duero using the finest seasonal ingredients from the local terroir.

Restaurante Monasterio de Valbuena, which is the hotel’s main restaurant, also serves high-end local cuisine. The menu offers traditional items from the region, like tasty crispy torreznos from Soria, as well as items with a creative twist, including: octopus with pumpkin and sweet potato cream.

Castilla Termal Monasterio de Valbuena is famous for its spa and wellness facilities, which are some of the most expansive within the Castilla Termal brand. The indoor thermal pool and contrast circuit take up the entire ground floor of the hotel. The wall-to-wall thermal pool is split into multiple Jacuzzis, including one with chromotherapy and an external one which remains heated outdoors, as well as ample underwater loungers and jets of every pressure and size to activate circulation in all parts of the body. The spa is supplied by healing mineral waters from San Bernardo Spring, which include sulfate and sodium-calcium and are excellent for improving blood circulation and metabolism.

The most unique feature of the spa is the contrast circuit located inside a recreation of the Chapel of San Pedro, which is also part of the Monastery of Santa Maria de Valbuena. Guests won’t find another spa experience to swim in luxurious thermal baths surrounded by sweeping Gothic frescoes and dramatic stone arches. The chapel spa also includes a hammam, chromotherapy sauna, and bithermal showers, all of which can be booked for exclusive private treatments. The hotel spa also provides an extensive list of wellness treatments and multi-day programs, like: pressotherapy, seaweed hydromassage, and detox facials.

The hotel is located on the Milla de Oro, where the most prestigious wineries of Ribera del Duero are quickly and easily accessible. The top winery we recommend is Finca Villacreces – a beautiful estate merely 15 minutes away from the hotel. Finca Villacreces produces the award-winning Pruno red wine deemed the best Spanish wine under $20 by wine critic Robert Parker. Visitors are able to tour the 110-hectare estate, with the option to tour via e-bike if weather allows, along with picnics and tastings of the four excellent wines produced at Finca Villacreces. The hotel also organizes winery visits and tastings for guests on a daily basis.

A stay at Castilla Termal Monasterio de Valbuena is the perfect excuse to visit Castilla Leon, as it’s simply a quick two-and-a-half-hour drive from Madrid and a 40-minute ride from Valladolid. Why say no to a spa getaway in the beautiful wine country?