# Santa María Ruins and the Cerezuelo River Vault

What to do en Sierra de Cazorla · Sierra de Cazorla

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/andalusia/sierra-de-cazorla/things-to-do/cerezuelo-river-vault · Revisado: 2026-11-13

- Duración: 45 min
- Temporada: All year
- Para quién: Everyone

The Renaissance church swept away by a flood in 1694 and the 16th-century tunnel through which the river runs beneath the square. Visits in time slots every day.

The ruins of Santa María and the vault of the Cerezuelo river are the place where the history of Cazorla is best understood. Santa María was the town's great Renaissance church, from the 16th century, attributed to Andrés de Vandelvira, the architect of Úbeda. To build it at the bottom of the valley, the Cerezuelo river had to be channelled under a barrel vault that passes beneath the high altar and the square. On 2 June 1694 a storm made the river overflow, the vault acted as a dam and the water wrecked the church.
A Church Without a Roof
What remains, restored in 2009 and 2010, are the roofless walls, the north doorway and the coffered vault of the apse, open to the sky in the middle of the Plaza de Santa María. The municipal tourist office is now in the ruins themselves, and it is also where entry to the vault is arranged.
Beneath the Square, Beside the River
The visit to the vault goes down into the tunnel through which the Cerezuelo still runs, under the square. It is done in time slots every day; according to the municipal notice, at 10:30, 11:30 and 12:30 in the morning and at 16:30, 17:00 and 18:15 in the afternoon. Ask about the price and the next free slot at the tourist office, because times may change with the season.
With a Guide: Cazorleando
If you would rather have it explained, TurisNat organises Cazorleando, a guided walk of about two hours through the historic centre that includes entry to the vault. It leaves at weekends, on public holidays and on long weekends at 10:30 from the Plaza de la Constitución, next to the tourist train stop, and passes the Palacio de las Cadenas, the church of San José, the convent of the Mercedarians, the Zabaleta balcony, the Plaza and fountain of Santa María, the ruins, the vault and a stretch of the river. It costs €20 per person, €12 for ages 6 to 12 and is free for under-fives; at least two paying adults are needed and the maximum group is twenty. It includes guide, map and insurance.
Around the Square
The Plaza de Santa María is in the lower district, a few minutes' walk from the Plaza de la Corredera. From there the path climbs to the Castillo de la Yedra, which you can see above the river, and the tourist train leaves from the Plaza de la Constitución. For a meal in the district, the Mesón Leandro is on Calle Hoz, in the old town. Park in one of the Cazorla car parks and walk down.

Lo organiza: TurisNat, desde 20 € per person (https://turisnat.es/cazorleando/)

## Cómo llegar y contacto

- Coordenadas: 37.9091, -3.0002

## Cerca de aquí

- [Mesón Leandro](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/andalusia/sierra-de-cazorla/where-to-eat/meson-leandro), a 42 m
- [Castillo de la Yedra and the Museum of Popular Arts and Customs](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/andalusia/sierra-de-cazorla/things-to-do/yedra-castle), a 165 m
- [Casa Alfonso X Restaurant & Bistro](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/andalusia/sierra-de-cazorla/where-to-eat/casa-alfonso), a 244 m
- [Cazorla Tourist Train to the Viewpoints and the Virgen de la Cabeza](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/andalusia/sierra-de-cazorla/things-to-do/cazorla-tourist-train), a 298 m
- [Hotel Ciudad de Cazorla](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/andalusia/sierra-de-cazorla/where-to-stay/hotel-ciudad-de-cazorla), a 298 m
- [Hotel Guadalquivir](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/andalusia/sierra-de-cazorla/where-to-stay/hotel-guadalquivir), a 373 m
- [Mesón Don Chema](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/andalusia/sierra-de-cazorla/where-to-eat/meson-don-chema), a 395 m
- [4x4 Route Through the Reserve Zone with TurisNat](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/andalusia/sierra-de-cazorla/things-to-do/4x4-reserve-route), a 533 m

## Consejos

### Ask for a Slot at the Office
The tourist office is in the ruins of Santa María themselves.

### Weekend with a Guide
Cazorleando includes the vault and leaves at 10:30.

### Shoes with Grip
Wear comfortable shoes that do not slip for going down into the tunnel.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### Can You Go into the Cerezuelo River Vault?
Yes, with a visit in time slots every day, arranged at the tourist office in the ruins.

### Who Built Santa María?
It is attributed to Andrés de Vandelvira, in the 16th century.

### What Happened to the Church?
A flood of the Cerezuelo river wrecked it on 2 June 1694.

### Is There a Guided Visit?
Yes, Cazorleando, by TurisNat, at weekends and on public holidays at 10:30, for €20.

Destino: [Sierra de Cazorla](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/andalusia/sierra-de-cazorla.md)