WEEKEND EXCURSIONS

A DAY OUT FROM PALENCIA TO THE MONFRAGÜE NATIONAL PARK

This itinerary takes us through the north of Extremadura, just where the region’s northern valleys meet in the city of Plasencia whish is from where we set out towards the Monfragüe National Park which borders onto the undulating lowlands of Trujillo and Caceres and the Valley of the Alagón River. This itinerary allows us to combine both a journey through the incredible historic and artistic heritage of Plasencia and some of its neighbouring towns as well as a visit to the majestic Monfragüe National Park. We can carry out the itinerary in a day or we can find accommodation amongst the area’s ever more interesting selection of hotels, rural properties and campsites.

AN ITINERARY FOR TOURISTS

Our starting point is Plasencia a strategic hub for the surrounding regions situated on the banks of the Jerte River and on the so called Autovía de la Plata (Silver Route Motorway), the A-66, which connects the north and the south of the region. The principal ecclesiastical building is the Cathedral, or rather, the Cathedrals: the old 13th century one, greatly influenced by Romanic and Gothic art and the Nueva (new) one which began to be built in the 16th century. In the interior, as well as an important Cathedral Museum, there are magnificent examples of Romanic, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque art. In a class of their own are the Major Altarpiece, created in the 16th century by Gregorio Fernández; the Altar of the Relics from the mid 18th century and the Choir Chairs, the 16th century masterpiece by Rodrigo Alemán.
Apart from the Cathedral we would recommend visiting the old central quarter of Plasencia. We set out from the beautiful and welcoming Plaza Mayor (Main Square), the neurological hub of the city where on the first Tuesday in August a festival called the Martes Mayor de Plasencia (Plasencia Great Tuesday) is held, a celebration declared of Interest as a Tourist Attraction.

Wandering through the medieval city’s urban mishmash of streets and alleyways, we will be surprised by Plasencia’s numerous Palaces such as the Monroy, the Dos Torres, the Mirabel, the Trejo and Vargas, the Carvajal-Girón, the Dean’s House or the well known Episcopal Palace.

                                                Mirabel Palace

The city’s main churches constitute a magnificent example of religious art from the Romanic, Renaissance and Baroque periods and of particular note are the churches of San Nicolás, San Martín, San Salvador or San Pedro. We should not forget to visit the city’s magnificent "Pérez Enciso" Ethnographic and Textile Museum, one of the best in Spain; the Hunt Collection in the Mirabel Palace, the majestic city walls or the view of the city from the nearby Sanctuary of the Virgin del Puerto.

We continue our journey to Monfragüe National Park by taking the A-66 motorway to a place called Casas de Millán which has an interesting 16th century Parish Church dedicated to San Nicolás de Bari. Just a few kilometres from the village the 16th century Hermitage of Nuestra Señora de Tebas has been conserved, together with an image of the Virgin from the same century.

From Casas de Millán we head north again along the A-66 to then turn off at the village of Mirabel which still conserves the remains of its castle, situated on the mountain peak known as the “Peña del Acero”. The village itself has a Parish Church which dates back to the 15th century, albeit with certain later modifications. It is dedicated to Mirabel’s patron saint, the Virgin of la Jarreta.

We enter into the confines of the Monfragüe National Park and come to Serradilla and Torrejón el Rubio a village famous throughout the region for its Baroque style Convent of the Santo Cristo which not only contains the splendid image of the Christ de la Victoria but also an excellent collection of paintings from the Baroque period. The Parish Church of la Asunción dates back to the 16th and 17th centuries.

                                        Monfragüe National Park

Torrejón el Rubio sits between the Almonte and the Tagus and is famous for its decorated pre-Roman stellas and for being one of the principal gateways to the Monfragüe National Park. The Parish Church is dedicated to the Archangel Saint Michael. Along the road to Villarreal de San Carlos where we will find the Monfragüe National Park Information and Interpretation Centre, we can make out the remains of an old Arab castle and at the bottom of that summit, one of the many caves which contain schematic paintings, testimony to the historic importance of this privileged region which is home to species unique in Extremadura and indeed in the entire Peninsula.

We can choose between various possible itineraries through this marvellous part of Extremadura - Monfragüe possesses a Mediterranean forest which is unique in the entire region. In Villareal de San Carlos the visitor may obtain information on all the activities which can be carried out in this park in which we can find exceptional flora and autochthonous species which no longer exist elsewhere in Europe.

This is the kingdom of the Griffon and the Black Vulture, the Egyptian Vulture and the Imperial and the Royal Eagle, the Black Stork and an endless variety of other birds of prey which nest in the forests and on the rocky crags. As is the case with other animals which have almost disappeared throughout Europe, the Lynx still survives within the Park’s confines. The local vegetation aids the conservation of this fortunate biotype.

Just a few kilometres away we come to the end of our itinerary although not without first having stopped off in a village called Malpartida de Plasencia, just beside Plasencia itself. Situated amidst oak groves the village contains the impressive ecclesiastical building of the Parish Church of San Juan Bautista, from the 16th century. On the church tower we can make out the coat of arms of Gutiérrez de Vargas Carvajal, Bishop of Plasencia.

GASTRONOMY

Cheese, honey, pork scratchings and game dishes in Torrejón el Rubio. Extremadura breadcrumbs (“migas”), lamb stews and mountain goat dishes are found throughout the area. Trout and home made pastries in Plasencia.

HANDICRAFTS

Wooden acorns in Torrejón el Rubio. Ceramics, embroidery, cork and leather work in Plasencia. Lace and typical costumes in Mirabel. Woodwork in Villareal de San Carlos.

FESTIVITIES

The Martes Mayor (Great Tuesday) celebration in Plasencia on the first Tuesday in August has been declared of interest as a Regional Tourist Attraction. The Candelas Torrejón el Rubio. Nuestra Señora de La Jarrera in Mirabel. The Christ of La Victoria in Serradilla.

NATURE AND COUNTRYSIDE

The landscape takes on a special profile due to the confluence of medium sized mountains which are in fact the continuation of the Miravete, Cañaveral, Mirabel, Serradilla and Corchuela ranges. This is a magnificent testimony to co-existence and to the mutual respect which exists between farmers and stockbreeders in the Monfragüe National Park. 17,582 important acres of Mediterranean forest survive here in Extremadura; the Tagus and the Tiétar rivers create an ideal habitat where hundreds of species of animals and an original flora flourish.