Oil field discovered
La Lora · Burgos · 1,031 m
A village unlike any other
Ayoluengo de la Lora. A land of energy
Where rural landscape and Spain’s industrial history meet beneath the same horizon.
Discover its story01
Oil
A unique story in Spain
EVERYTHING CHANGED IN 1964
Ayoluengo was home to Spain’s only onshore oil field to be commercially exploited.
Oil first flowed in Spain on 6 June 1964. Industrial production began in January 1967 and continued for fifty years.
Ayoluengo oil fieldLa Lora / Burgos
Industrial milestone1964Extraction begins
Beneath our feet
A STORY THAT EMERGED FROM BELOW
First oil strike in Spain
Industrial production begins
Declared an Asset of Cultural Interest
Local residents beside the first well, “Ayo-1”, located at Valdeajos within the Ayoluengo oil field.
Protected industrial heritage
Fifty years shaping the landscape
The extraction pumps, known locally as balancines or caballitos, became the field’s most recognisable feature and forever changed the landscape of La Lora.
The complex covers approximately six square kilometres and preserves the legacy of 52 production wells.
On 11 March 2022, the Government of Castilla y León declared the oil field an Asset of Cultural Interest in the Ethnological Ensemble category.
Oil field archive
Four views of the Ayoluengo oil operation
02
The village
Beyond oil
SMALL
IN SIZE.
VAST IN HISTORY
Stone, farming and a community that has preserved its identity at over one thousand metres above sea level.
Ayoluengo stands in an open plateau landscape, surrounded by beech, oak, holm oak and pine woods. Its stone houses speak of a way of life closely tied to the land.
Seed potatoes, La Lora honey, livestock farming and wind energy complete an identity where tradition and innovation have always lived side by side.
Documented roots
From the 12th century to today
The name Ayoluengo appears to mean “distant beechwood” or “far away”. In 1141, Alfonso VII donated these lands to the monks of the now-lost monastery of San Martín de Quintanilla de Escalada.
A small church was probably built soon afterwards; its Romanesque doorway survives. The bell tower was built in 1641.
Segundo Arce Manjón, a collaborator and successor to the Ave María educational work begun by Andrés Manjón, was baptised in its font.
03
Ayoluengo heritage
The village church
AYOLUENGO CHURCH
TORRE1641
The small church preserves a doorway and baptismal font in the Romanesque or pre-Romanesque tradition. Its present tower was built during the first half of the 17th century.
An inscription dated 1641 recalls the construction of the tower and the villagers’ role in transporting its materials.
The tower inscription
Original text preserved beside the entrance to the bell tower
“Jhs. María. Año 1641. Esta obra hizo Lucas Martínez, siendo Cura Juan González Manzanedo y trayeron los vecinos los acarretos de gracia”.Translation: “Jhs. Mary. Year 1641. This work was made by Lucas Martínez, when Juan González Manzanedo was parish priest, and the villagers transported the materials without charge”.
04
The territory
MILLIONS OF YEARS IN ONE LANDSCAPE
−5.000 años
Prehistory
Heritage nearby
La Cabaña Dolmen
↗ Sargentes de la Lora
The dolmen is located in the nearby village of Sargentes de la Lora. It is included here as part of the archaeological heritage of the wider Las Loras area.
A sea before a village
FOSSILS OF LA LORA
Long before Ayoluengo existed, the sea covered these lands. Cretaceous fossils preserved in its rocks are visible evidence of that vanished landscape.
01 — Gastropods02 — Ammonites03 — Bivalves04 — Nerineas
Original collection
Fossils found in Ayoluengo
05
The beech forest
A FOREST THAT IS ALSO MEMORY
A forest at the edge of the plateau
THE BEECH FOREST THAT MAY HAVE GIVEN AYOLUENGO ITS NAME
On the cool north-west-facing slopes, tall, closed-canopy beech woodland gives way to holm oak and Portuguese oak across the plateau. The walk becomes a transition between two landscapes.
The medieval place name “Faeto Longo”, documented in 1141, is interpreted as “Long Beech Forest”: the woodland belongs not only to the landscape, but also to the village’s name and memory.
A contemporary horizon
The power of the wind
42°45′NAYL3°55′O
61 kilometres from Burgos, next to Sargentes de la Lora and in the heart of the UNESCO Las Loras Global Geopark.
- From Burgos
- N-623 / BU-V-6222
- Elevation
- 1,031 metres
Practical information
Park responsibly without blocking entrances, tracks or agricultural access.
Spring and autumn offer milder temperatures; winter weather conditions can be harsh.
Frequently asked questions
PLAN YOUR VISIT
Can you visit the Ayoluengo oil field?
The oil field is a protected Asset of Cultural Interest, but access to facilities and enclosed areas may be restricted. Before travelling, check conditions and opening times with the Oil Museum or Sargentes de la Lora Town Council, and always respect closures and signs.
How do you get to Ayoluengo from Burgos?
Ayoluengo is about 61 kilometres from Burgos. The usual route follows the N-623 and then the BU-V-6222 road towards Sargentes de la Lora and Ayoluengo.
What is the best time to visit Ayoluengo?
Spring and autumn offer milder temperatures and attractive scenery for exploring the area. Winter may bring ice, snow and other adverse weather conditions.
Information and enquiries
Let’s talk about Ayoluengo
For information about Ayoluengo de la Lora, the surrounding area, local tourism or its industrial history, you can write to this address.
EMAILinfo@ayoluengo.comSend an email