Segura De León

Segura De León offers several clearly distinct points of interest for a trip: Castillo Santiaguista, religious architecture, a landscape collection, Las Capeas and the Dehesa. If you are looking for a hotel, it helps to first decide on the occasion and the focus you want. A trip centred on Las Capeas depends on the September festival period; if you are interested in history, the castle, convent and parish church each have different features. The Dehesa and Los Molinillos add nature and landscape themes to this picture.

Castillo Santiaguista and its history

Castillo Santiaguista was rebuilt in the 14th century by the Order of Santiago. Its irregular floor plan follows the terrain, so the landscape and the building’s form are connected here. Two distinct questions are therefore central to understanding its history: who built the castle, and how does its floor plan respond to its location? The castle is currently open to visitors for tourism. As visiting arrangements can change, check the current options before your visit.

Religious architecture and art

The Convento de San Benito has a double Mudéjar cloister with low, flattened round arches. The double layout and the shape of the arches are specific architectural features that differ from the castle’s floor plan, which follows the terrain. On the north door of the Iglesia Parroquial Ntra. Sra. de la Asunción is an inscription dated 1299 and dedicated to Santa María. The Iglesia Parroquial de Segura de León has been declared a Bien de Interés Cultural (Asset of Cultural Interest) in the “Monument” category. The religious buildings can thus be considered from different perspectives: architectural form, religious dedication and official heritage status.

The Museo y Centro de Estudios de la Capea Eduardo Casquete offers another cultural perspective. Its permanent exhibition features an extensive landscape collection donated by the painter Antonio Casquete de Prado, from Segura de León. This brings landscape painting into focus alongside architectural history. When weighing up your travel interests, you can compare this focus with the architectural features of the castle, convent and parish church.

Las Capeas in September

Las Capeas is an annual festival in honour of Cristo de la Reja and is considered a festival of tourist interest in Extremadura. It is held from 13 to 18 September; the dates can shift by a few days to include a weekend. The extended September Capeas feature around twenty young bulls each day, provided by local livestock farmers. Young men ride the animals or lead them during the bullfighting event in the “corralá”. These details give the festival a distinct local character. If Las Capeas is the reason for your trip, check the exact festival dates for the relevant year, as the period can vary slightly.

Dehesa and Los Molinillos

The Dehesa of Segura de León includes naturally occurring Mediterranean woodland with holm oaks, cork oaks and pine trees. The remains of the so-called “de Dominguito” mill can also be found at Los Molinillos. There is a large quartz and slate rock formation there, offering a picturesque panorama and the chance to experience nature. These are distinct landscape perspectives: the Mediterranean woodland with its named tree species, and at Los Molinillos the combination of mill remains, rock formation and panorama. These points of interest can help you weigh nature and cultural experiences according to your interests when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Mérida, Puebla De La Calzada, Herrera Del Duque, Bienvenida, Montemolín, Valdecaballeros, Hornachos, La Parra

For the overview of the wider region: Badajoz.