The Hurdes

Las Hurdes are located north of the province of Caceres, bordering on that of Salamanca. It is a region endowed with a singular natural beauty that, precisely because of its orography, has lived almost isolated for centuries. However, new communications have integrated it into tourist circuits with great success precisely because of its wonderful landscapes and its peculiar idiosyncrasy.

Surrounded by Gata and France mountain ranges, as well as the region of Lands of Granadilla, Las Hurdes has a lot to offer you. If you want to get to know this area of ​​Extremadura better, we invite you to follow us on our journey.

What to see in Las Hurdes

If this region stands out for something, it is, as we told you, because of the imposing beauty of its natural areas. You can get to know them by doing magnificent routes Hiking and, among them, the following stand out.

Meanders

Some of the rivers that cross Las Hurdes form capricious and spectacular meanders. For example, if you go up to Gasco viewpoint you can see the winding that the Malvellido river has created. Likewise, if you approach the viewpoint of La Antigua, near the town of Lower River, Do you have the meander Melero, reputed to be one of the most beautiful in Spain.

Gasco Volcano

It is one of the most curious places in Las Hurdes. It is a crater that, for a long time, was believed to be caused by volcanic activity. However, subsequent investigations have indicated that it was due to the meteorite fall. Currently, it is Asset of Scientific Interest and it is in an environment of great beauty, with holm oaks and strawberry trees.

Puddle of the Pot

There are also abundant in Las Hurdes natural pools, where you can take a bath while enjoying spectacular views. This is the case of Charco de la Olla, near the town of Brick, and of the Las Mestas pool, next to the previous one.

Jet of the Meancera

Starting from the aforementioned Malvellido river and continuing through orchards and cherry trees, you can reach the Chorro de la Meancera, a spectacular waterfall in the area of ​​the stream of the same name. Very similar and equally precious is the Sheep Plover, which falls into a wonderful natural pool.

Petroglyphs

Another curiosity of Las Hurdes is the existence in several of the areas of the region of petroglyphs, symbolic drawings made on the rocks during the Neolithic. Some of the most important deposits are the one from Las Erías, the one from El Riscal, the one from El Tesito de los Cuchillos o the one with Las Herraduras, all of them in the municipality of pine franked.

The villages

The region of Las Hurdes has a peculiar architecture based on the blackboard that abounds in the area. The walls and roofs of their houses were built with this stone, giving the landscape a unique air. This way of building is very old (believed to be pre-Roman) and is related to the pallozas from northwestern Spain.

The towns of the region are called farmhouses, a term that was used in medieval times for the small rural nuclei that were established near the Arab cities or medinas.

Among them stands out Morisco road, near the aforementioned Melero meander and with an interesting artisan industry. You should also get closer to Brick, located to the north of the region and lying on a hillside already Casares de Las Hurdes, known for its drummers.

But there are three more interesting farmhouses even from the monumental point of view. Marry of Palomero It has an old Jewish quarter where there was even a synagogue and with the Churches of the Holy Spirit and the Immaculate Conception, both built in the XNUMXth century.

En pine franked, in addition to the petroglyphs that we have already mentioned, you have the church of Our Lady of the Encina, built in the XNUMXth century and with a major altarpiece from the XNUMXth century, as well as the Hermitage of Cristo de la Salud, from the same time. In addition, if you visit the town on the last weekend of August, you can enjoy the Enramá, a festival of Regional Tourist Interest.

Finally, in nuñomoral highlights the church of Our Lady of the Assumption. In addition, from this area the hiking trail of the Black Stork, which runs through the Batuequilla valley and allows you to observe these types of birds.

Customs and traditions

Another peculiarity of Las Hurdes, perhaps due to its secular isolation, is that it has managed to preserve all its traditions and even its own dialect: the extremeño. Even more curious is that this linguistic variety is related to the Asturleonian. In addition, it has its own historical literature thanks to writers such as Clara Jara de Soto, from the XNUMXth century, and Jose Maria Gabriel y Galan, of the XX.

What to eat in Las Hurdes

Two of the gastronomic jewels of Las Hurdes are Honey y The baby goat. The latter is prepared in many ways: in a stew, in a small dish, with pollen or a gardener, and it has gained fame even outside the region.

Another typical dish that you should try is the lemon salad, nothing light, as it has a base of citrus, fried eggs and chorizo. There are also the wiggle potatoes or you will breathe; the boils or lamb tripe stuffed with tripe, and the hungry killer, a blunt goodie. You can also taste the suckers, which are chestnuts in milk.

As fish, the river ones stand out as the trout, barbels o the tents. Sometimes the wet fish, which has different vegetables as an accompaniment and a bread base.

For dessert, you have an excellent pastry made up of fried buns, daughters, threads, florets, syringes o fritters. And, to drink, you have good wines although you can finish the meal with a delicious honey brandy.

How to get to Las Hurdes

The best way to get to the Extremadura region is by highway, either by bus or in your own car. If you use this and come from the north, you will arrive by the A-66, better known as Ruta de la Plata. You must leave this at the exit of La Granja / Zarza de Granadilla and, after passing through the Gabriel y Galán reservoir, you will find Marry of Palomero.

The same A-66 you can use if you come from the south. But, in this case, at the height of Plasencia, you must turn off for the EX-370 that will take you to pine franked. Finally, if you are traveling from Madrid, the best option is the NV. After passing Navalmoral de la Mata, you have to turn off for the EX-A1 ​​and then for the Ex-204.

In conclusion, Las Hurdes has a lot to offer you today. It has natural wonders, monuments and an exquisite gastronomy. It no longer has anything to do with that backward and depressed region that it portrayed Buñuel in his documentary 'Las Hurdes, land without bread'.