WEEKEND EXCURSIONS

A DAY OUT IN THE IBORES

The Los Ibores region stretches from Campo Arañuelo to Las Villuercas, in the east of Extremadura and lies close to the province of Toledo. One of the main attractions of Los Ibores is its magnificent landscape, parallel rows of mountains with typical highland vegetation in which chestnut and oak trees form an excellent habitat for a multitude of birds of prey. The small villages in this region have maintained an interesting historic and artistic heritage which is complemented by splendid local gastronomy in which honey and goat’s cheese play a prominent role.

                        Las Villuercas Mountains and Guadarranque Valley

AN ITINERARY FOR TOURISTS

In Guadalupe we cross over the Guadarranque River to set off on this itinerary which will take us first of all to Navatrasierra. Around the village we may not only contemplate attractive mountain landscapes typical of Los Ibores but also another element of beauty which emanates from the village’s situation amidst the Valdelacasa and the Altamira mountain ranges. Although there are not that many houses, the village does conserve some typical buildings which can be observed from the road that leads us to Carrascalejo poised almost on the very banks of the Gualija River. Carrascalejo lies between the Altamira and the Valdelacasa mountain ranges and borders on the province of Ciudad Real. The local church was built between the 17th and the 18th centuries and there is an outstanding late 16th century baptismal font.

Heading north, towards the Tagus, we come upon the village of Villar del Pedroso which is the site, according to certain historians, of the Roman village of Augustobriga. The Parish Church of San Pedro is one of the region’s most important ecclesiastical buildings and of particular beauty is its altarpiece made with tiles from Talavera de la Reina..

As we enter Valdelacasa del Tajo we may be surprised by an attractive Vía Crucis which is the scene every May of the celebrated “Crosses” celebration and in Easter of various festive and pious celebrations. Near to the banks of the Tagus we can visit the ruins of the Arab Castle of Espejel. On the slopes of the Valdelacasa Mountains and on the very banks of the Tagus we come upon Garvín and its 16th century dressed stone Parish Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción with its “groin” or ribbed vaults throughout. There is excellent hunting to be had in Peraleda de San Román, known far and wide as an excellent place in which to practice this speciality. The magnificent Church of San Juan Bautista was constructed in the 16tth century using masonry and dressed stone and contains interesting Baroque altarpieces, particularly the Major Altarpiece, designed in the Classicist style.

The Plaza Mayor (Main Square) of Bohonal de Ibor conserves some brick arcades and semi circular arches, clearly influenced by Mudejar architecture. The Parish Church of San Bartolomé dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries. Near the village we can visit the remains of what was once a Roman temple, declared a Historic and Artistic Monument in 1931. It belonged to the ancient Roman settlement of Augustóbriga (Talavera la Vieja) and was moved here from its original setting before it was inundated by water from the Valdecañas reservoir.

                                                Bohonal de Ibor

As well as its traditional architecture, Mesas de Ibor (close to the Valdecañas reservoir) possesses the outstandingly attractive 16th century Parish Church of San Benito Abad. A beautiful mediaeval bridge, constructed by La Mesta, crosses the Ibor River. On to Fresnedoso de Ibor, with its late 15th and early 16th century Parish Church, built from masonry and dressed stone. In Castañar de Ibor, as well as its traditional architecture we can contemplate the famous Gruta de la Cruz (Grotto of the Cross), declared a Nature Monument, with its underground lake and beautiful formations of stalactites and stalagmites.

The last village in this itinerary is Navalvillar de Ibor, well known on account of its famous cheese and embroidery. Situated on one of the slopes of the Las Villuercas Mountains and right on the Ibor River, its 16th century Parish Church has an interesting Gothic altarpiece and various painted wall partitions.

GASTRONOMY

This region is famous for its excellent Denomination of Origin goats’ cheese, its “Villuercas-Ibores" Denomination of Origin honey and its equally outstanding and magnificent game, mountain goat, lamb and pork dishes. Home made pastries can be found in the region as can the famous “chicharrones” (pork scratchings) from Villar del Pedroso.

HANDICRAFTS

Embroidery and lace in Fresnedoso de Ibor and Navalvillar de Ibor. Enea wood chairs in Bohonal de Ibor.

FESTIVITIES

San Antón in Fresnedoso, Deleitosa and Cabañas del Castillo. “Las Candelas” (the Candles) in Valdelacasa and in Bohonal de Ibor. Nor should we forget the Easter “Encounter” in the village of Deleitosa.

NATURE AND COUNTRYSIDE

In this region of parallel mountain ranges there are impressive cliffs inhabited by birds of prey – two good examples are the Deleitosa and the Altamira Mountains. The landscape is dominated by great expansions of chestnuts and all manner of oak trees which line the Ibor River, picturesque stony slopes and well kept areas dedicated to the commercially important cultivation of olive trees.

Natural pools are yet another charming attraction to be borne in mind in these easterly regions of Extremadura. There is an abundance of big game hunting throughout the region.