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Espinosa de los Monteros | |
|---|---|
Municipality and town | |
 Espinosa de los Monteros panoramic view, 1996 | |
 Flag .svg) Coat of arms | |
 Location of Espinosa de los Monteros municipality in Burgos province | |
  Espinosa de los Monteros Location in Spain | |
| Coordinates:43°4′N3°32′W / 43.067°N 3.533°W /43.067; -3.533 | |
| Country | Spain |
| Autonomous community |  Castile and León |
| Province |  Burgos |
| Comarca | Las Merindades |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | José Carlos Peña Martínez |
| Area | |
• Total | 137.50 km2 (53.09 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 762 m (2,500 ft) |
| Population (2024-01-01)[1] | |
• Total | 1,648 |
| • Density | 11.99/km2 (31.04/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 09560 |
| Demonym | Espinosiego/a |
| Website | Official website |
Espinosa de los Monteros is a municipality located in theprovince of Burgos,Castile and León, Spain, with a population of c. 2,100 inhabitants.
The village is spread over a large rural area at the southern outskirts of a mountainous area of theCantabrian Mountains.
First settlements in the area date from the Bronze and Iron Age, but its modern settling and location officially started with the town charter given byAlfonso VI of León to repopulate it after its war destruction during the early 11th century.
It is home to the ancient Royal Guard of the "Gentlemen of the Chamber" since its founding in 1008 bySancho García of Castile of the early local counts dynasty.
Espinosa is said to be the birthplace of Miguel de Espinoza's family name and origins, father of the philosopherBaruch Spinoza.
DuringNapoleonic Wars, TheBattle of Espinosa de los Monteros, fought on 10 and 11 November 1808, resulted in aFrench victory underGeneral Victor againstLieutenant GeneralJoaquín Blake'sArmy of Galicia.
The main activities and industries have been related to military career services, stockbreeding mostly of cattle and as a regional hub of transportation due its geography, currently are intensified around dairy products and as modern commercial and services local center of its area and smaller neighbor communities of the wider valley. It is developing a small recreation tourism focused in its rugged and preserved mountain attractions. In winter, due to its heavy snowfalls, it runs a modest ski resort mostly catering to the neighbor coastal major cities day and weekend tourism.
Picón Blanco is a high mountain peak located in the municipality at an elevation of 1512 m. The road fromArredondo to the abandonedmilitary base at the top is a climb in professionalroad bicycle racing, having been often used inVuelta a Burgos and twice atVuelta a España . It is 7.9 kilometres long at an average gradient of 9.1% (height gain: 721 m).
| Year | Stage winner | Race leader |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 |  Rein Taaramäe | Rein Taaramäe |
| 2024 |  Edward Dunbar |  Primož Roglič |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
