Discover Puebla De Alcocer

Anyone looking for a hotel in Puebla de Alcocer can combine choosing where to stay with exploring the town’s cultural and natural highlights. The castle, two museums, a historic church and walking routes offer different perspectives—from architectural history and exhibits to practical questions about route length and destination.

Castle, history and views of the reservoir

Castillo de Puebla de Alcocer was built in the 12th and 13th centuries. In the 15th century, Gutierre de Sotomayor, Master of the Order of Alcántara, had the castle remodeled. The two dates mark different stages in its construction history: its origins and its later remodeling. The Castillo offers views of the Embalse de la Serena.

You can visit the Castillo on foot. If you are planning a visit, check the current visiting conditions in advance. One route to consider is the Ruta del castillo de Puebla de Alcocer: this circular route, about 1.5 kilometers long, follows the historic ascent from the town to the castle. The castle and the route are therefore directly connected here as a destination and a named route.

Church and museums

The Iglesia Parroquial de Santiago Apóstol is a Romanesque-Mudéjar church dating from the 11th and 12th centuries. Its interior contains frescoes from the 13th century and later periods. The architecture and paintings thus reflect different periods; the frescoes do not date solely from the 13th century.

The Museo del Gigante Extremeño is located in rooms in the Casa de la Cultura de Puebla de Alcocer. It comprises three rooms: two exhibition rooms and an audiovisual room. The objects on display include large circus posters almost four meters tall, a replica of Agustín’s walking stick, and a pair of boots given to Agustín by King Alfonso XII. You must make an appointment to visit the Museo del Gigante Extremeño. Arrange this before you arrive.

The Museo Etnográfico is located in the former cellar rooms of the Convento de San Francisco. It displays historical and archaeological material, as well as an ethnographic exhibition about the municipality of Puebla de Alcocer. Together, the two museums offer different perspectives: the Museo del Gigante Extremeño focuses on its specified exhibits and rooms, while the Museo Etnográfico brings together material on the municipality’s history and ethnography.

Walking routes and birdwatching trails

Two details are especially useful when comparing routes. The Ruta del castillo de Puebla de Alcocer is a circular route about 1.5 kilometers long, following the historic ascent from the town to the Castillo. The Subida al punto Mira is longer, at about 3.8 kilometers; this circular route leads to the Rachado geodetic point and is of moderate difficulty. When choosing a route, you can therefore compare the shorter ascent to the castle with the longer circular route to the Rachado geodetic point.

Puebla de Alcocer is also located within two birdwatching routes: “Embalse de Orellana y Puerto Peña” and “La Serena y Sierra de Tiros.” Birdwatching is therefore one of the designated themes of the routes around the town.

Small details also add to the picture of the town: the iron gate at Fuente de Oñamira bears the year 1903. The Castillo brings together several of the themes described here—architectural history, a circular route with the castle as its destination, and views of the Embalse de la Serena.

Festivals and cultural events

Annual traditions include San Isidro on May 15. The celebration begins with a procession from the Convento de San Francisco to the Ermita de la Laguna. Las Luminarias de San Sebastián takes place on the evening of January 19 in honor of Saint Sebastian, with large bonfires lit in every neighborhood. For Corpus Christi, children and adults decorate the streets with floral carpets and carpets made of sawdust or salt.

The Mercado Medieval is also held every year beside the walls of Castillo de Puebla de Alcocer. Noches del Castillo features cultural performances in the courtyard of the Castillo. Festival dates may vary; the program for Noches del Castillo depends on the plans for that year. If you want to plan your trip around a celebration or performance, check the specific dates before you arrive.

Discover more destinations: Peraleda del Zaucejo, Los Santos De Maimona, Villanueva del Fresno, La Bazana, Fuenlabrada De Los Montes, Malpartida de la Serena, Aljucén, Valdelacalzada.

For the broader travel overview: Badajoz.