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A Breathtaking Natural Environment: Aquatic Landscapes

by NatureNature Trasierra

A Breathtaking Natural Environment: Aquatic Landscapes

Adventure awaits you, be it on the water or on land.

  • Location: Embalse Gabriel y Galán, Oliva de Plasencia, Ahigal, Embalse de Baños de Montemayor, Abadía, Aldeanueva del Camino, Laguna de Fresnedilla, Pantano de las Cumbres.

The distinctive terrain has shaped the land and its remarkable natural diversity. Among the gallery forests of ash and alder trees you may spot kingfishers, otters or even a Pyrenean desman in the highest elevations of the Jarilla or Cabezabellosa gorges.

The Gabriel y Galán Reservoir is a Special Protection Area for Birds (SPA). These pristine waters and natural environment make this an ideal habitat for a variety of aquatic bird species of international importance. It is also home to ospreys, black vultures and honey buzzards, among others.

Practice birding at the Gabriel y Galán Reservoir, the winter home of the common crane. They arrive in autumn once the temperatures drop. Approximately 2,000 birds have chosen this region as a roosting site.

Fishing enthusiasts can cast their lines in the hopes of catching a barbel, carp, pike and maybe even a black bass.

You can also explore other wetlands during your visit, such as the Estanco Lagoon in Fresnedillas (Oliva de Plasencia) or the Cumbres Reservoir (Ahigal). Walk around, breathe in the fresh air, and observe birds like kites and vultures. During the winter months, when bird diversity is at its peak, you can also spot migratory species such as spoonbills, great egrets, and cranes.

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Aquatic Landscapes

by NatureNature Ambroz

Aquatic Landscapes

Explore our reservoirs and rivers from the shore or in a canoe.

  • Location: Embalse de Baños de Montemayor, Abadía, Aldeanueva del Camino.

The Ambroz Valley is a water-rich territory with numerous bodies of water. Some of the tree formations in the Ambroz Valley, known as “gallery forests”, are made up of ash trees, alders, poplars, willows, and shrubs like hawthorn, rush, and bramble. In these forests it is common to see species such as the common blackbird, the Eurasian nuthatch, the short-toed treecreeper and the golden oriole. It’s also possible to encounter species such as the kingfisher, otter, or even the elusive Pyrenean desman in the upper reaches of the waterways.

Observe the ducks and cormorants on the Baños de Montemayor Reservoir or enjoy a kayak or paddleboarding excursion.

Fishing enthusiasts can cast their lines in the hopes of catching a barbel, carp, pike and maybe even a black bass.

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Richness of the Green Olive Grove

by NatureNature Trasierra

Richness of the Green Olive Grove

“Olive blossoms by St. John’s Day, oil ready for the jar.” Discover the secrets of this land where the prized crop of the Trasierra-Tierras de Granadilla region is grown.

  • Location: La Pesga, Marchagaz, Mohedas de Granadilla, Cerezo, Palomero.

The veritable sea of olive trees in Ambroz-Cáparra is an extraordinary sight to behold. Some of our villages, including La Pesga and Marchagaz, have thousand-year-old olive trees.

Marchagaz is synonymous with olive groves and vice versa. It is an ideal location for growing Manzanilla Cacereña olives. It’s a town where visitors can take part in a variety of oleotourism activities. To learn more about olives and olive oil, we recommend that you visit the Olive, Olive Grove and Olive Oil Interpretation Centre.

Visit our olive groves and take home lasting memories of the breathtaking views.

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Extremaduran Charm: Holm Oak and Cork Oak Dehesas

by NatureNature Trasierra

Extremaduran Charm: Holm Oak and Cork Oak Dehesas

Take some time to explore and appreciate one of the most iconic symbols of our land: the dehesa.

  • Location: Oliva de Plasencia, Aldeanueva del Camino, Cerezo, Palomero, Santibáñez el Bajo, Mohedas de Granadilla, Santa Cruz de Paniagua y Guijo de Granadilla.

Some of the most stunning examples of holm oak deheas in Ambroz-Cáparra can be found in Plasencia, Cerezo, Guijo de Granadilla, and La Granja. But the fact is that you can also see them in nearly every village in the Trasierra-Tierras de Granadilla region. The surrounding areas are replete with cork oaks, holm oaks, and shrubs. The dehesa in spring is home to a variety of birds that will delight you with their songs. One of the best known is the black stork. In winter it is not unusual to see the common crane feeding on acorns.

Stroll through the enchanting Dehesa Boyal of Santibáñez el Bajo to observe majestic holm oaks, cork oaks, and aromatic shrubs like rockrose and lavender. It’s a perfect way to spend time with your loved ones. and a magnificent opportunity to experience a vast public dehesa that is kept in top condition. If you visit this dehesa during the montanera season, you’ll see Iberian pigs roaming freely, feeding on acorns.

Apart from cork production, this dehesa has long been famous for raising free-ranging Iberian pigs known for the quality of their meat!

Stroll through lush green dehesas and take a guided tour of a bull ranch and an ecological dehesa as you travel the Camino Vespasiano PR-CC 202 trail from Villar de Plasencia to Cáparra.

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Pine Forests of Granadilla and Rutting Deer

by NatureNature Trasierra

Pine Forests of Granadilla and Rutting Deer

Discover an endless expanse of pine trees and let your imagination wander into the horizon shaped by its breathtaking views.

  • Location: Zarza de Granadilla, Guijo de Granadilla y Mohedas de Granadilla.

Take in the beauty of these pine forests, along with the holm oaks, cork oaks, and a few eucalyptus trees down below.

The Iberian lynx is an iconic and critically endangered species in Spain. The captive breeding centre at Zarza de Granadilla endeavours to ensure the recovery of this iconic animal. New cubs that are born are monitored and cared for on a daily basis before being released into the wild. To understand just how lucky we are to have this species in Ambroz-Cáparra, it’s important to note that the Iberian lynx is the second most endangered feline in the world. Learn more about the life of this precious animal on your visit to the Iberian Lynx Awareness Centre in Zarza de Granadilla.

There are two protected spaces in the region: Gabriel y Galán Reservoir SPA (Special Protection Area) and the Granadilla SCA (Special Conservation Area), which is the habitat of endemic species like the Iberian loach (Cobitis vettonica). It’s also home to the red kite and the black stork. And given its proximity to the Gabriel y Galán Reservoir SPA, you can also see black vultures.

Listen to the spectacular natural sounds of the bellowing deer in this magnificent setting. This phenomenon takes place from late August through early October with the first autumn rains. In rutting season, the male deer bellow to attract females at dawn and dusk.

Another spectacle not to be missed at dusk in winter is the sight of the cranes returning to the roost. This area of Granadilla  on the shores of the Gabriel y Galán Reservoir is one of the largest crane roosting sites in Ambroz-Cáparra.

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Rising to the Level of Chestnut and Oak Trees

by NatureNature Trasierra

Rising to the Level of Chestnut and Oak Trees

Ascend to another level and discover the majesty of the landscape brimming with chestnut and oak trees with every step you take.

  • Location: Jarilla, La Pesga, Cabezabellosa, Villar de Plasencia y Santa Cruz de Paniagua.

The deciduous forests of Pyrenean oaks and chestnut trees in the mountains display a brilliant palette of colours, especially in autumn. These forests also serve as a summer refuge for birds such as the European honey buzzard.

Jarilla has abundant chestnut and oak trees but also a variety of shrubs such as heather and strawberry bushes.

A visit to the Acarreadero oak tree in Cabezabellosa is a must. This is a very old and very large Noble Tree. It is believed to be more than 500 years old and stands out for its imposing presence and extensive crown.

Take a panoramic photo from the incredible Ermita del Castillo Overlook in Cabezabellosa.

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Among chestnut and oak woods

by NatureNature Ambroz

Among chestnut and oak woods

Ascend to another level and discover the majesty of the landscape brimming with chestnut and oak trees with every step you take.

  • Location: Segura de Toro, Hervás, Baños de Montemayor, La Garganta, Gargantilla.

The deciduous forests of Pyrenean oaks and chestnut trees in the mountains display a brilliant palette of colours, especially in autumn. These forests also serve as a summer refuge for birds such as the European honey buzzard.

The jewels in the crown of this land are the chestnut trees in El Temblar, Segura de Toro; the chestnut trees in Corbiche and La Marotera, Casas del Monte; and the Gallego and Duque chestnut forest in Hervás. As designated noble trees and protected landscapes, they all receive special protection.

Autumn is the season when visitors can witness one of the most breathtaking spectacles our land has to offer, when vast expanses of leaves transform into a mesmerising tapestry of crimson and gold. Experience our Magical Autumn, which happens every year. This is the season when the Ambroz Valley bursts into an explosion of colour. Magical Autumn, a Festival of International Tourist Interest, celebrates the wonders of nature by offering a multitude of activities for all ages to enjoy across our eight charming villages.

Plan your trip now and be sure to capture a panoramic photo from the incredible Canchal de la Cigüeña in Segura de Toro. It’s a good way to immortalise your memories in the Ambroz Valley.

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Extremaduran charm: holm oak and cork oak dehesas

by NatureNature Ambroz

Extremaduran charm: holm oak and cork oak dehesas

Walk through our oak or cork oak dehesas and observe our noble trees.

  • Location: Aldeanueva del Camino and Abadía.

Imagine walking through cork oaks, holm oaks, and Pyrenean oaks, and coming upon the Fresneda Cork Oak, a noble tree in Aldeanueva del Camino. This is a truly remarkable specimen of the Quercus suber, commonly known as the cork oak. It is the largest one in all of Extremadura and one of the largest in the world. It is estimated to be around 500 years old, making it a living testimony to the history of the Ambroz Valley.

It is approximately  25  metres  high  with  25  a  base  circumference  of  about  7       metres.  It  has a  wide,  leafy  crown which provide  shade and shelter. This tree is also known for its thick, cork-covered trunk, which is sustainably exploited for the production of cork.

pinares-destacada

Pine Forests of Granadilla and Rutting Deer

by NatureNature Ambroz

Pine Forests of Granadilla and Rutting Deer

Discover an endless expanse of pine trees and let your imagination wander into the horizon shaped by its breathtaking views.

  • Location: Abadía.

There are two protected spaces in the region: the Gabriel y Galán Reservoir SPA (Special Protection Area) and the Granadilla SCA (Special Conservation Area), which is the habitat of the Iberian loach. It’s also home to the red kite and the black stork. And given its proximity to the Gabriel y Galán Reservoir SPA, you can also see black vultures.

Between late August and early October, with the first autumn rains, you can hear male deer bellowing at dawn and dusk to attract females. Listen carefully to the sounds of nature during the deer rutting season – a unique experience for the senses.

Another spectacle not to be missed at dusk in winter is the sight of the cranes returning to the roost. This area of Granadilla on the shores of the Gabriel y Galán Reservoir is one of the largest crane roosting sites in Ambroz-Cáparra.