Welcome to our guidebook

Transcription

1 Welcome to our guidebook

2 Welcome to Casa Rural del Corral which is a perfect example of the traditional Spanish architecture from the villages of Extremadura and the Monfragüe National Park. Our rural house is a good place to spend the weekend with your partner or friends. The Casa Rural is also ideal for all family or business meetings, association meetings, groups, and all types of celebrations including courses and social events. These three buildings are surrounded by el corral, which is a unique element of the original self-sufficient house that hosted the, orchard, cellar, chicken coop, etc. Since its construction, many things have been built and demolished around the corral, but the coral itself has always remained untouched as it is considered a vital element of the historical house. Today, this area has been transformed into a garden that provides the house with a large variety of fresh, local, and delicious vegetables and fruit that are available to all house guests. The corral can be visited during the same hours assigned for the indoor swimming pool (From May to 15 TH October, hrs and hrs). Accommodations: The tranquility and opportunities that are offered in our accommodations are perfectly combined with the beauty and charm of its surroundings. We have made ever measure possible to keep the historical feeling of our country cottage intact. In order to get that rural home feeling, we carefully design everything from lighting to decoration. The 3 accommodations, The Apartment, The House and the 2 Lofts Apartments offer multiple ways to accommodate up to 26 people. Useful info Check in time: 12.00hrs. At this moment you can pay the reaming amount of your stay in cash or with credit card (VISA/ MASTER CARD/ AMEX) Check out time: 12.00hrs. Wi-Fi connection is available in all areas and is free of charge (Key: ) Free public parking is possible at a location nearby (reservation is not needed) If you require any further assistance our staff can help at the accommodation. At night you can phone this telephone number: The corral-patio can be visited during the same hours assigned for the indoor swimming pool (From May to 15 TH October, hrs and hrs).

3 ACTIVIDADES Y EXPERIENCIAS What to do in Extremadura? Visit discoveringextremadura.com or download any QR Reader From App Stores in order to scan the graphics next the title of each catalogue. If you prefer, Casa Rural del Corral can arrange it for you. Uniquely you have to tell us your chosen experience! ADVENTURE Canoeing, canyoning, climbing, snowshoeing BIRDWATCHING Routes in Monfragüe, Plasencia, Cáparra, Arrocampo TAJO CRUISES Discover Tajo Internacional Park, Its history, culture, flora and wildlife!! HORSE RIDING Routes and horse riding lessons across La vera, El Jerte, Ambroz ROLLS-ROYCE EVENTS Rides and events with a Rolls Royce PHOTOGRAPHY Tailor-made routes to take photos in Valle del Jerte, Valle del Ambroz, Granadilla, Las Hurdes, Sierra de Gata, La Vera, Parque Nacional de Monfagüe ALIVE HISTORY Cultural routes in La Vera, Valle del Jerte y Valle del Ambroz. TASTES Wine and oils tastings, special lunches&dinners, visits to traditional brewery places and more... DRAMATIZED GUIDED TOURS Guided theatre shows. Scenarios Isabel and Mistery and Legend nights.

4 USEFUL INFO Banks and ATM: Santander, Plaza Mayor Liberbank, Avda Paseo de la Diputación Caja Almendralejo, Avda Paseo de la Diputación Supermarket (Día): C/ Doctor Fleming Churrería Los 3 chocolates : c/nazario Muñoz, 18 Bakery: C/Galanas 15 Typical Cold meat (Iberian Ham, Cheese ):: Sierra de Monfragüe, Poligono industrial molinos de viento p. A-6. Local Park:: Parque Municipal (Avd. Paseo de la diputación) Petrol Station:: Avda Constitución Medical Centre:: C/ Escuelas, 3 HELPFUL PHONE NUMBERS National Police: 091 Local Police: 092 Emergencies: 112 Civil Guard: 062 Fire station: 080

5 PLASENCIA It was on King Alfonso VIII s iniciative that Plasencia was foundes in the war frontier between the Christian and the Muslim trops in However, this important defensive nucleus and the nearby lands were occupied by other cultures from the Prehistoric Age to the Middle Ages. The Almohads, under the command of Abén Jucef, conquered it in 1196, although it fell under King Alfonso VIII s control again a year later. He ordered to destroy the fortified in Being a free locality up to 1442, it was at this moment that it started to belong to Pedro de Zuñiga with the title of County through king Juan II s grant. However, it was in 1488 that Plasencia became part of the Catholic Monarchs possesions, as the town council and the nobility that belonged to the municipal government wished. The most important memebers of the Extremaduran nobility lived in Plasencia from the late 15 th century on. In the Course of the years they left an important artistic-historical legacy which is well-preserved nowadays. Two years after the Foundation of this locality in 1.186, Plasencia had a bishop see which included Medellín and Trujillo. This bishopric enlarged the old Romanesque Cathedral temple centuries later, thus building the New Cathedral in the course of the 16 th century. As Bishop Juan de Carvajal proposed, studies focusing on humanities were created. They were the first General University studies Extremadura had in Throughout the centuries, Plasencia became a usual place for agricultural, commercial and cattle deals. Among its Medieval traditions, it still preserves attractive fairs and festivities and singular markets suchs as the one that is held at the beginnings of August, known as Martes Mayor, which was declared Regional Tourist Interest Festivity). As a Result of the warmth and the enterprising nature which is tupical of the locals, Plasencia is an economic and socio-cultural reference for the northern area of Extremadura. Besides, the supply of excellent services has contributed to its recognotion as the most important urban nucleus in the North of Extremadura. Don t miss: The Old and New Cathedral, Marquises of Mirabel s Renaissance Palace, The Provincial Ethnographic Textile Museun of Pérez Enciso, San Antón s aquedcut, Santa María del Puerto s Sancturary, San Esteban s Church, Las Claras Convent, San Nicolas s Church, Santa Ana s Church, San Martín s Church, San Vicente Ferrer s Convent, Salvador s Church, San Pedro s Church, Other Palaces and Stately Houses and Fortified walls and Doors.

6 MONFRAGÜE The nearby localities Casas de Millán, Cañaveral, Pedro de Acím, Torrejón el Rubio, Malpartida de Plasencia, Serradilla and Mirabel stand around Monfragüe Nature Reserve. This Reserve, the first protected area of Extremadura, was declared Nature Reserve in 1979 and considered Special Protection Area for Birds in 1991, specially due to the numerous bords of prey settled in this place. In addition to tha, it has been declared Boisphere Reserve recently. This area with 17,852 hectares takes up both sides of Tajo River and we can find the mouth of Tiétar river in it, so these lands become a link between Villuercas and the Mountains around las Vegas de Alagón. It has an excellent Interpretation and Visitants Centre in Villareal de San Carlos, village which belongs to Serradilla, founded in XVIII century according to Carlos III s wishes and form the place where the best routes for visiting the reserve through the different itineraries are perfectly signposted in this zone. The popular Salto del Gitano, is a privileged viewpoint in the Reserve. We can observe hundreds of vultures from it, as well as from another emblematic place called Saltos de Torrejón, close to the dam where the viewpoint of tejadilla with and observaotry of fauna and birds is situated. The Castle is one of the most emblematic places tha Monfragüe Nature Reserve possesses and its height let us oberve mos part of wide dehesas which make up the Reserve, The Majestic soar of vultures coming to the castle and Salto del Gitano and Tajo River flowing in these zones. In addition to tha, we can find protected shelters with schematic cave paintings near the castle, at the beginning os its slope. The are numerous holm oaks and cork oaks in the deheas which make up the Reserve surrounded by rocky places where hundreds of vultures live and one of the most numerous colonies of black vultures in the world. The Iberian Golden Eagle has one of the most important areas for its protection in the Reserve, where other emblematic species such as black stork, Egyptian vulture, peregrine falcon or Golden owl and birds of prey suchs as sparrow hawks, booted eagles, short-toed eagles, etcetera are protected.

7 LA VERA La Vera is situated in the Northeastern region of the Cáceres Province, in the Southern side of the Gredos Mountains and parallel to the Tietar River. Thanks to its geographic situation and characteristics, La Vera can be considered as an enclave which has allowed the development and settlement of communities since time inmemorial, as it has been discovered on several megalithic burials. The countless examples of popular architecture spread among its nineteen villages are enough to justify a cultural visit to la vera. Not in vain, five out of our villages have been declared Historic-Artistic Ensembles. Although the cultural jewel in the region is doubtless The Monastery and the Palace of Yuste, which is also where the Headquartes of the European Academy of Yuste are and cultural activities of the highest level are held, you must not pay less attention to its Churches, Palaces, Castles, Fountains The Gastronomy is varied but the delicious the best in the world Pimentón is a jewel in the Gastronomy of la Vera and improves the excellent cuisine. La Vera is the most vegetated region of Extremadura. This is due to its location and the great amount of water courses. Its gorges are espectacular places for trekking and for summer baths. Don t miss: Cuacos de Yuste, Jarandilla de La Vera, Robledillo de La Vera AMBROZ VALLEY It is situated in the heart of North Mountain range of Extremadura, flanked by the Valley of the Jerte to the east, The Hurdes to the west, Plasencia to the South and Bejar to The North. It is crossed along the road N-630 (Gijón- Seville) or The Route of Silver. Its nature and weather provides itself smooth winters and fresh summers. Hervás, Is the capital of the Ambroz Valley. It has a soft continental climate. Lots of Jewish families started to settle from 15th century on, they even maintained their rituals some years after The Jewish quarter has been maintained and it's one of the tourist landmarks of the town. Don t Miss: Abadia, Baños de Montemayor, Aldeanueva del Camino, Gargantilla, Segura de Toro

8 JERTE VALLEY The Jerte is a natural region situated in the Northeast of the Cáceres Province. A natural paradise with crystalline throats, extensive forest of oak trees and brown. Typical corners of tradicional architecture and the fantastic river Jerte with its crystalline water which gives name to the zone. The name of the river itself is due to the Arabs who baptized it with the name of Xerete, whose translation would be: river of crystalline water. The Jerte Nature, with an exceptional microclimate during all the year, has some special characteristics in the spring, when more than 2, cherry trees planted in these beautiful mountains open its flowers and with they, flood the valley of an incredible image snowfall that is distributed by the banks and slopes where circulates the River Jerte. Don t miss: Port of Tornavacas, General view of the Jerte Valley, Cherries Museum, Nogaleda s Route, Rebollar and its popular architecture. THE HURDES Las Hurdes covers an area of 470 km², bordered with Sierra de Gata to the west, Sierra de Francia (Salamanca Province of Castilla León to the North) and Trasierra Tierras de Granadilla. It is a relatively high mountain region with low population density. Its territory is linked to the neighboring valley of Las Batuecas, in whose lower fringes lies the Las Mestas farmstead which is historically part of Las Hurdes. The climate in Las Hurdes is Mediterranean/Continental with Atlantic influence. Despite being usually included as part of the "humid" section of Spain ("España húmeda&- quot;) physical conditions and natural vegetation are semiarid. There are seven rivers cutting stony valleys in Las Hurdes: The Río Malo or Ladrillar, Batuecas, Hurdano, Malvellido, Esperabán, Ovejuela and the Río de Los Ángeles. Archaeological evidence has been found that Las Hurdes region was inhabited in the Chalcolithic Age. The oldest stone inscriptions (Petroglyphs) date from about 4000 years before the Iberian Roman era began. The remains are largely testimonial, proving merely that the area was inhabited, for there is no evidence of large settlements. Remains of settlements from Roman times, when the whole area around Las Hurdes was part of the ancient Roman province of Lusitania, have been found in sites near Caminomorisco. The Las Hurdes region was depopulated after the Arab invasion of Spain in the 8th century, and the first vestiges of repopulation in isolated compounds of a few dwellings or Hamlets, locally known as alquerías, are dated around the end of the 12th century. Don t miss: Caminomorisco, Casares de Las Hurdes, Ladrillar, Pinofranqueado, Casar de Palomero

9 SIERRA DE GATA The Sierra de Gata is located in the northwest of the province of Cáceres, which is in the autonomous community of Extremadura. It borders with Portugal on the west in the area of the Portuguese Serra da Malcata Natural Reserve. Sierra de Gata is also the name of a comarca that includes of 20 municipalities located roughly in the same area as the mountains. The municipality of Moraleja is included in the Sierra de Gata comarca, even though it is geographically not in the mountainous area of the Sierra de Gata itself. Gata is a purely rural landscape and agrocultural typical of the mountains where time seems to stand still and the hours do not count. Don t miss: Acebo, Cadalso, San Martín de Trevejo, Robledillo de Gata.