With just over 50 inhabitants, this small town in the region of Las Merindades in Burgos sits on a natural stone bridge, created by the Nela river over the last 90 million years, although locals attribute its construction to God, as its name suggests: Puentedey ('puente' meaning bridge and 'dey' referring to God).

The beautiful medieval complex was built on the natural bridge over the Nela River, which locals and visitors have crossed on foot for thousands of years, after crossing the town's medieval walls, unfortunately now lost to the annals of time. Puentedey is an interesting urban complex in which stately homes rub shoulders with more traditional buildings.

Worthy of particular note is the church of San Pelayo, a Romanesque construction with a single limestone nave. The base of the vault features a diamond-chequered impost and an undulating stem with leaves. The most interesting element is the portal, which depicts a man armed with a shield and sword coming face-to-face with a reptile.

The second most prominent building is secular, and is known as the palace of the Brizuela. With its fortifications almost giving it the shape of a castle, this was built between the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, at the highest point of Puentedey's natural arch.

As a rule, Puentedey's streets are quiet, except at the end of summer, where locals and visitors attempt to scale a greasy pole as part of the town's festivities. Whoever reaches the pennant at the top of the slippery trunk is crowned king of the festivities.

Like that of the wider region, the town's gastronomy is noteworthy for its fresh produce, horse and lamb, homemade breads or 'bollos preñaos' (stuffed rolls). Also very popular are suckling pig, black pudding and Burgos cheese.