Hermitage of Our Lady of the Forsaken

The hermitage of Our Lady of the Forsaken is one of the main devotional spaces of Villanueva de la Fuente and a place closely linked to the religious identity of the town.

Located outside the town center, in an open setting that reinforces its character as a pilgrimage sanctuary, the journey itself becomes part of the visitor experience. Its location, nestled among the paths and the mountain landscape, also gives it special value within the municipality's heritage.

The hermitage is linked to the Virgin of the Forsaken, patron saint of Villanueva de la Fuente, whose devotion plays a central role in local festivities. The pilgrimage takes place on the second weekend of May, when the image is carried in procession from the parish church of Our Lady of Peace to the hermitage. This procession and the celebration itself demonstrate that it is not merely a religious building, but a place of collective gathering, where tradition, celebration, and popular piety remain an essential part of the town's collective memory.

A visit to the hermitage offers a profound understanding of the connection between heritage, landscape, and celebration. For much of the year, the building houses the image of the town's patron saint, becoming a sentimental and symbolic landmark for the community. Therefore, the Hermitage of Our Lady of the Forsaken fits particularly well into a route that combines the town center of Villanueva de la Fuente with its heritage sites most closely linked to the surrounding area, such as the source of the river, the mills, and the mountainous landscape.