Covarrubias, Province of Burgos

Covarrubias
Municipality and town
Panoramic view of Covarrubias, 2010
Flag Seal
Location of Covarrubias
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Castile and León
Province	Burgos
Comarca	Arlanza
Government
• Mayor	Óscar Ízcara (PSOE)
Area
• Total	41 km2 (16 sq mi)
Elevation	894 m (2,933 ft)
Population (2012)
• Total	626
• Density	15/km2 (40/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	09346
Website	http://www.covarrubias.es/

Covarrubias is a village and municipality in the province of Burgos in the Spanish autonomous community of Castile and León. It has 640 inhabitants, and it is near to Mecerreyes, Cubillo del Campo and Hortigüela. Covarrubias is situated in the valley of the river Arlanza, which is extensively wooded with among other species Spanish Juniper. Part of the area belonging to the municipality is included within a Special Protection Area for bird-life such as vultures.

The village itself was declared a Conjunto Histórico-Artístico, a type of conservation area, in 1965. Covarrubias features picturesque vernacular buildings in a natural setting that attracts many tourists, some of whom come from abroad. Covarrubias and Tønsberg in Norway have entered a friendship agreement as the result of a medieval connection with Christina of Norway, Infanta of Castile. A church honouring Saint Olaf II of Norway, designed by the architect Pablo López Aguado, has been built in the town and dedicated in 2011.

One of the first areas to be reconquered from the Moors in the late ninth century, Covarrubias had an influence on Castile and its language. The river is popular for swimming and canoeing. One feature, Fuente Azul, is 6 km away. It has a mild climate, and a diverse cuisine: its black pudding is famous in Burgos province, and it produces grapes, Arlanza (DO), and cherries.