On the banks of the Jerte River, in the Extremaduran province of Cáceres, Plasencia has a historic center, fruit of its strategic enclave on the Silver Route. This locality was inhabited by Romans and Arabs until in the XII century Alfonso VIII reconquered and repopulated it. From the fifteenth century the nobility of the region moved to this city, determining its current appearance. Palaces, noble houses and important religious constructions make up a singular monumental neighborhood.

What to see in Plasencia

Plaza Mayor, Cathedral Square, Old Cathedral, New Cathedral of the Deán, walls surrounding the city of Plasencia, Palace House of Monroy, Church of San Nicolás, Renaissance Palace of the Marquis of Mirabel, Convent of San Vicente Ferrer, Puerta de Berrozana, Romanesque church of San Martín, Torre Lucía, Aqueduct of San Antón, Ornithological Park of the Pines, park of the Island, National Park Monfragüe (a unique place in Europe for the sighting of birds (black stork, Imperial eagle.)).

Ambroz Valley

The Ambroz Valley is a place of contrasts, with mountains that exceed 2,000 meters and have a name such as Pinajarro, Valdeamor or El Camocho, and areas of vega and meadow at only 500 meters altitude. With abundance of water, gorges and rivers, the Broad Gorge, the river Santihervás or the river Ambroz, which gives name to the valley.

Its history is also marked by those mountains, between which the passage to the north was opened, and this facilitated the existence of many roads, first the Roman Way of La Plata, then the gullies and twines, such as the Cañadas Reales Soriana Occidental and Vizana, later the railroad, and now the national highway 630 and the A-66, has always been well communicated.

In their coming and going for our bullskin, the cultures, Vega, Celtic, or Jewish left their legacy, the Toro Celta de Segura de Toro or the Jewish Quarter of Hervás are some of its main landmarks. Our ancients knew how to choose where to live.

These mountains have also marked their landscape, large chestnut and oak forests in the shades, accompanied by terraces covered with cherry and plum trees. Leafy holm oak and cork oak in the lower valley, and from time to time a natural monument, a singular tree, such as the Chestnut trees of the Temblar, the Alcornoque de la Fresneda or the birch of the Port of Honduras, true cathedrals of nature .

What to see in the Ambroz Valley

Abadía,  Aldeanueva del Camino, Baños de montemayor, La garganta, Segura del Toro, Hervás

With more than 2,000 meters in the summits of La Ceja and El Calvitero, this rugged region represents the roof of the Salmantine geography. This privileged nature has deserved to be declared, together with the Sierra de Francia, Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.

The climatic and cultural conditions have given origin to a peculiar popular architecture, that finds its maximum expression in Candelario. The walk through this village allows you to contemplate the chacineras factory houses with its batipuerta, and the showers where the water of the mountains descends.

In addition to this locality, there are two other historical sites in the area. The city of Béjar remembers its medieval past with the defensive wall and the ingrained tradition of the Men of Moss. Its past splendor as center of cloth manufacture has earned it the title of textile city.

Montemayor del Río has for centuries been monitoring the Calzada de la Plata and the cattle ravine with the imposing figure of its castle, today the center of interpretation of the Middle Ages.

Spaces of enormous beauty that can be known, also, practicing hiking, mountain biking, climbing or, in general, in contact with the same nature. And if you like skiing, get to the Sierra de Béjar-La Covatilla station.

Between the western foothills of the Sierra de Gredos and the city of Plasencia is the mountain region of “El Valle del Jerte”, through which flows the river Jerte, tributary of the river Alagón, tributary of the Tagus.

The Jerte Valley has historically been a natural passage between Extremadura and the lands of the Duero. Transhumance lands, the Camino Real is still used to lead cattle on their journey to summer pastures.

The name that comes from the Arabic Xerit, can mean narrow or crystalline, being the river Jerte both things at the same time. Born at about 1800 meters above sea level, in its brief journey it gathers the waters of streams, gorges and fountains that turn this small great cacereño valley into a botanical garden.

The Jerte Valley invites us at every moment to discover the surprises of the landscape: the trout jumping upstream, the juicy mushroom that hides the oak, the last purple flash that rips the sun from the snow, wander the shady trails Which snake the mountain, fall to the amial cradled by the warm mooing of the cows, to wet the body in the frothy frills of any throat.

A river that offers numerous and cozy puddles where to swim, to flow, to float, or to simply contemplate. Beneath its waters you can see good specimens of trout from the country, those of red pints, surprising the lucid otter diving in the assholed bends, and the restless watery Blackbird that submerges to our surprise.

Embraced by Alisos, Fresnos and Willows, next to Almeces, Encinas and Robles, and the useful Cerezos, Castaños and Olivos, the river Jerte is protected and recognized at European level as “ZEC”, Zone of Special Conservation, along with the Alagón River , To invite their respect and conservation, such will be their value and representativeness.