WEEKEND EXCURSIONS

A DAY OUT IN THE JERTE VALLEY

Set between the Trasierra Mountains and the Tormantos Sierra (Mountain Range), the Jerte Valley takes its name from the river which flows through it. This valley and indeed the entire region enjoy a benign temperature all year long which bestows a very special natural charm on the area and is a blessing for crops. Add to the weather the region’s excellent gastronomy, its magnificent natural settings and a good accommodation network!. The popular mountain architecture is one of the most characteristic of all the north of Extremadura, based on stone and wooden latticework.

                                        Jerte Valley view

AN ITINERARY FOR TOURISTS

The road we use to travel through the Jerte valley is the N-110 which links Plasencia with El Barco de Ávila in the province of the same name and the Tormes River. The first Jerte locality that we visit is El Torno which rests on the slopes of the Trasierra mountains and is therefore a splendid vantage point from which to contemplate the entire Jerte Valley. El Torno is known for its production of spirits and liqueurs. The highlight of the village is the 16th century Parish Church of Nuestra Señora de la Piedad, built using stone and granite. A little distance away down the N-110 we come upon the village of Rebollar, situated on the right hand side of the Jerte River, surrounded by terraces of cherries and olive groves. We can climb up to the peak of the Cerbunal, some 1,587 metres high, for a view of the Ambroz and Jerte valleys. The church of Santa Catalina dates back to the 17th century.

Once more on the N-110, we climb upwards this time along the right hand side of the valley, heading north, until we arrive at Casas del Castañar which possesses interesting mountain buildings and typical streets amongst which the Church of San Juan stands out on account of its stonework and its semi circular portico. Nearby Cabrero is famous throughout the region both for is excellent spirits and liqueurs and for its strategic situation in the valley itself, encircled by chestnut and cherry trees. The 18th century Parish Church of San Miguel was built in stone and stands amongst streets and houses which blend together to form what is a most beautiful mountain village. A very few kilometres away is Piornal, a Jerte Valley village which borders on La Vera and is in fact a very attractive gateway to that particular valley. With an average altitude of 1,200 metres, its gastronomic products are rightfully famous as is, above all else, its annual Festivity known as “El Jarramplas”, celebrated every year during the Feast of Saint Sebastian and declared of interest as a Regional Tourist Attraction. Its Church is dedicated to Saint John and dates back to the 15th century.

Prior to rejoining the N-110 we should stop off in Valdastillas, set on the banks of the San Bartolomé mountain range and full of beautiful narrow streets and houses adapted to the mountain terrain. Typical examples of popular architecture are to be found in this village in which there is a proliferation of the famous attractive reddish terracotta lattice works. The Church of Santa María de Gracia is a 16th century stonework construction. Heading north and following the course of the river we come upon Navaconcejo, situated on the left bank of the Jerte River. Aligned along two elongated streets the majority of its attractive houses have the projecting balconies and rooftops typical of this region. Of all its buildings the 17th century textile mill "La Fábrica” and the 16th century Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción are the most interesting.

From here we can visit two beautiful spots, the "Garganta de San Pedro” (Saint Peter’s Gorge) or the Camocho Peaks. A few kilometres away on the N-110 is Cabezuela del Valle, a village which has been declared a Historic and Artistic Site thanks to its admirable popular architecture. It has some magnificent examples of buildings which combine so called "drying balconies” (for curing meats, sausages and peppers and so on), balustrades, projecting rooftops and magnificent latticework. The oldest part of the village is known as La Aldea and is full of tiny streets and narrow crannies. Its most prominent building is the Church of San Miguel Arcángel, built in the 16th and 18th centuries probably on the site of an ancient synagogue. There is also a porticoed square in the centre of the village. The N-110 runs through the village and crosses the Jerte River by means of a fine Roman stone bridge.

We continue on our way towards the north of the valley and we come to Jerte, set on the banks of the river which lends its name to the entire region. The town is surrounded by market gardens, meadows and countless cherry orchards which when they blossom in spring make it look as if everything has turned white. Inside the village we will see the 18th century Parish Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción and the Barrio de los Bueyes (Oxen Quarter), an ancient part of the village which survived a fire during the War of Independence in 1809. The "Garganta de los Infiernos” Nature Park is nearby, an idyllic place with impressive scenery and magnificent flora and fauna. Jerte produces one of the best alabasters in all Extremadura.

At the top of the Jerte valley we come upon Tornavacas, situated beside the source of the Jerte River and bordering on the region of Castilla and Leon, just between the Béjar mountain range and Gredos. There are beautiful corners and mountain constructions in this village and what is without doubt a magnificent panorama of the entire valley. The 16th century baroque Church de la Asunción has been declared a building of Historic Artistic Interest. In days gone by and indeed up until the time of Ramiro II, King of Leon, Tornavacas was known as Villaflor de las Cadenas. A few kilometres further uphill is the Puerto de Tornavacas, (the Tornavacas Mountain Pass) a natural balcony from which to contemplate the Jerte Valley.

GASTRONOMY

Excellent cherry liqueurs, hams and seasoned sausages (chorizos), "cachuela” soups made from meat, tomato and spices, trout "al moje” (cooked with bay leaves and vinegar), cherries and chestnuts. The cherries have given rise to an important industry which distils liqueurs and excellent spirits, particularly the famous kirsch.

HANDICRAFTS

Home made carpentry. Crochet work in Tornavacas and Jerte. Embroidery in Cabazuela del Valle and El Torno.

FESTIVITIES

The annual Cerezos en Flor (Cherries in Blossom) Festival is held in the springtime, each year in a different village and has been declared of interest as a Regional Tourist Attraction. Jerte celebrates its Candles Festivity and in Toravacas they hold the Fire Festival. Another Festival declared of interest as a Regional Tourist Attraction is "El Jarramplas" which takes place each January in the village of Piornal.

                                        Cherry-trees in Jerte Valley

NATURE AND COUNTRYSIDE

Spring brings incomparable beauty to this region when thousands of cherry trees growing on the mountain slopes burst into bloom. The Jerte River and its affluents abound with beautiful ravines and clean natural pools bursting with trout, in particular the “Garganta de los Infiernos” Nature Park. In autumn these latitudes don the most extraordinary colours thanks to the immense stretches of forests adorning the entire valley. In winter numerous mountain goats populate the snowy heights of the surrounding mountain ranges.

The highly interesting Charles V Trail, between Tornavacas and Jarandilla de la Vera attracts a great number of walkers.