Discover Alagón Del Río

Alagón Del Río lies in the Valle del Alagón in northern Extremadura, between the historically and culturally significant cities of Plasencia and Coria. Two themes are central to understanding the area: the village’s origins as a colonial settlement and the transformation of the Valle del Alagón through the introduction of irrigated agriculture. The Cristo de la Salud and a municipality used predominantly for agriculture are also part of the picture. When planning your stay, this combination can help you decide whether to focus on local history, cultural heritage, or the area’s rural character.

Origins as a colonial settlement

Alagón Del Río was established as a colonial settlement to accommodate the populations of Granadilla and Martinebrón (Sotoserrano), whose villages would have been flooded by the construction of the Gabriel-y-Galán reservoir. From 1957, land-clearing and leveling work began on the Dehesa Rodings; the new village and agricultural plots were to be built on this land. In April 1958, the first group of settlers arrived from Granadilla: 16 families.

The chronology places the preparation of the land before the arrival of the first group. The village’s history is thus linked to Granadilla and Martinebrón, as well as to the agricultural purpose of the planned land. The Centro de Interpretación de la Colonización del Valle del Alagón can be visited in Alagón Del Río. It documents the profound transformation of the Valle del Alagón through the introduction of irrigated agriculture in the mid-20th century. This broadens the focus from the founding of the village to the transformation of the valley. Check the center’s visitor arrangements before your trip.

Church and Cristo de la Salud

The Iglesia del Espíritu Santo was consecrated on November 10, 1958. The church houses the Cristo de la Salud, a crucifix dating from the mid-16th century. The image comes from Granadilla and reached Alagón Del Río after a brief stay in Cáceres. It is attributed to, or influenced by, the Castilian school. The artwork and the church building belong to different periods: the image is several centuries older than the church, which was consecrated in 1958.

The Cristo de la Salud was chosen by a show of hands as the patron saint of Alagón Del Río. The festivals of Alagón with the Cristo de la Salud were originally held in late summer and early autumn, coinciding with the end of the tomato, corn, and pepper harvests. Their original timing links devotion to the patron saint with the agricultural calendar.

Agriculture and surroundings

The municipality is used predominantly for agriculture. Irrigated crops include mainly fruit trees, as well as corn, tobacco, and various vegetables. There are also pastures for the region’s significant cattle-farming sector. Irrigated farming and grazing shape the rural surroundings in different ways: alongside fruit and vegetable fields, livestock farming is also part of the municipality’s character. In addition to its local and religious history, Alagón Del Río therefore offers a tangible connection to the agricultural use of the Valle del Alagón.

For another activity, the “Alagón del Río – ruta de los frutales” mountain bike route is located near Alagón Del Río. It is a circular route listed as 10.9 kilometers long. Check the current trail surface and conditions before riding. The route offers a different focus from the church and interpretation center: it is one way to include physical activity in your travel plans, while the historical sites explore the village’s origins and the transformation of the region.

Discover more destinations: Zarza de Montánchez, Serrejón, Calzadilla, Valdencín, Cilleros, Montánchez, Valdefuentes, Alía.

For the broader travel overview: Cáceres.