Las Merindades

Las Merindades encompasses 26 municipalities across the northern region of Burgos province, with Villarcayo serving as its administrative center.

The region marks the birthplace of Castilian identity, documented in the Becerro de Behetrias during the territorial organization by King Pedro of Castile.

The territory maintains the medieval administrative structure of merindades, which functioned as intermediate governing bodies between central power and local towns.

The comarca borders Cantabria to the northwest, Biscay to the northeast, La Bureba to the south, and shares boundaries with provinces of Álava and Ebro.

The region preserves the original administrative term merindad, where officials called merinos exercised powers equivalent to English counts or bailiffs.

Location: Province of Burgos

Capital city: Villarcayo de Merindad de Castilla la Vieja

Website: https://lasmerindades.com

GPS coordinates: 42.94361,-3.54222

Latest update: May 26, 2025 21:54