Casas Del Castañar: Hiking through chestnut forests

Casas del Castañar is best explored through its trails, chestnut forests, and cultural sites. This gives you several different themes to choose from when planning your trip: hikes through the landscape, the history of the comarca, and architecture and art. The Ruta de los Castaños connects chestnut forest with the Castro Celta Riscos de Villavieja; other trails focus on cultural landscapes or views. You can therefore plan your stay around whether you mainly want to spend time outdoors or explore different cultural themes.

Hiking among chestnut trees and scenic views

The Ruta de los Castaños is classified as easy and leads through the chestnut forests around Casas del Castañar. Along the way, hikers can discover the Castro Celta Riscos de Villavieja. The route brings together two clear highlights: the forest reflected in its name and a Celtic hillfort as a destination of historical and cultural interest.

The Era de San Bernabé starts at the picnic area in Parque El Arroyo and leads to a viewpoint with an impressive panorama over the lower part of the Valle del Jerte. Its character differs from the Ruta de los Castaños: here, the focus is on a specific starting point and the view, while the other route is classified as an easy hike through chestnut forest and offers the chance to discover the Castro. Your choice therefore depends on whether you prefer to focus on chestnut forest and an archaeological site or a route to a panoramic viewpoint. Check local trail conditions before setting out.

A drovers’ road and its landscape

The SL-CC 16 Cordel del Valle offers a different focus. It follows a drovers’ road used by transhumant shepherds. It is particularly associated with herders from Ávila, who drive their cattle from the Sierra de Gredos to the banks of the Tajo across the southern Tormantos mountains. Transhumance is the seasonal movement between grazing areas; this route also offers insight into this form of land use. The San Bernabé section includes well-preserved Mediterranean pastureland with holm oaks. Here, livestock driving and a distinct type of landscape come together.

Cultural history, collections, and art

The Centro de Interpretación y Memorias BioCulturales in Casas del Castañar is an interactive venue. It presents 3,000 years of the comarca’s history, its different forms of economic activity, and the region’s relationship with nature. The focus is therefore not only on individual historical artifacts, but also on how ways of life and economic practices are connected to the surrounding natural environment.

The Museo Etnográfico Temático sobre el Legado de Sayans displays works of art and archaeological remains collected by a doctor over the course of his life. Visits are possible by prior appointment only. Arrange a time in advance and confirm that a visit is possible before your trip. EMAC, the Espacio Morán de Arte Contemporáneo, is also one of the cultural attractions in the municipality of Casas del Castañar.

Townscape and views in the center

The traditional architecture of Casas del Castañar invites you to take a leisurely walk and admire its houses and street life. At the Iglesia de San Juan Bautista, one specific architectural detail stands out: its prismatic tower is attached to the outside of the south side of the apse.

The Mirador de las Casas is in the town center, on the road to Cabrero. From this viewpoint, you can see across the Valle del Jerte and the landscape around the town. Together with the hiking trails, it offers a choice of different perspectives: the routes lead through forest and cultural landscapes or to a panorama, while the town center is all about architecture and views.

Discover more destinations: Montehermoso, Barrado, Casas Del Monte, Salvatierra De Santiago, Alagón Del Río, Navas Del Madroño, Monroy, Aldeanueva Del Camino

For the broader travel overview: Cáceres.