Navaconcejo: Río Jerte, Swimming Spots and Local History

The Río Jerte flows through Navaconcejo and shapes the range of nature and cultural experiences available in the town. When planning your trip, you can choose from different focuses: swimming areas along the river, the Garganta de las Nogaleas route, viewpoints or buildings with local history. The local swimming spots are used for cooling off and relaxing in summer; their seasonal suitability may vary.

Swimming and Hiking on the Río Jerte

The natural pools vary in their facilities. El Cajón has a grassy area and easy access. The natural pool at El Pilar has a sandy area, plenty of shade, a car park, a beach bar and a children's playground. From there, you can reach the Garganta de Nogaleas. El Cristo is a spacious swimming area with dense alder trees, a picnic area, a children's playground and a nearby car park. At the entrance to the town is El Benidorm: alder, ash and poplar trees provide shade, and there is also a large car park.

The Garganta de las Nogaleas route starts and ends in Navaconcejo. It is rated easy and is about four kilometres long. This makes the hike a practical option for anyone looking to include a walk in their stay. As conditions along the route may change, it is a good idea to check them before setting out.

Buildings, Local History and Traditions

The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción brings together several historical points of interest. The coat of arms in the sacristy dates the church to the mid-16th century; the inscription on the tower refers to the second half of the 17th century. The building includes a Baroque main altarpiece from the mid-18th century. The Ermita del Cristo del Valle is an 18th-century chapel. It houses an altarpiece from the same century depicting Jesus on the cross.

The Fábrica de Sayales, known as the Casa de Cultura, is a Renaissance building associated with Navaconcejo's former textile production. Its cellar rooms once housed workshops for making bayeta and paño pardo, as well as dyeing rooms. The callejinas also tell of everyday routes from the past: these tunnels connect the river with the rest of the town and were once used for washing and watering animals.

Along the Cañada Real, formerly Calle Real, stand a stone cross and houses with wooden balconies and elaborately carved stone façades. The Camino Real, meanwhile, was the historic route for trading goods between Navaconcejo and Piornal. Another local story is depicted in the Mural de La Ballena: according to local lore, a saddlebag swept along by the current in the Río Jerte was mistaken for a whale. This is the origin of the nickname “ballenatos” for the residents.

Local traditions also add a cultural dimension to a stay. The celebrations for the patron saint San Jorge include a mass at the Ermita de San Jorge and a Romería on 23 April; the specific programme may vary. Los Calbotes is a tradition of going outdoors, roasting chestnuts and celebrating with friends and family.

Viewpoints in and around Navaconcejo

The Mirador de San Jorge is on Cerro de San Jorge, about 300 metres from Navaconcejo. The Mirador de las Artezuelas, by contrast, is within the town limits on Paseo Nuevo. From there, you can look out over the Río Jerte and the town. Access is via the bridge between Cerro Real and Paseo del Río Jerte streets.

If you are looking for a hotel for a trip to Navaconcejo, these different points of interest can help you choose what to focus on: you can plan your stay around the swimming areas and hiking route, the town's architectural history or the viewpoints. This puts nature experiences and the town's history side by side as practical themes for your plans.

Discover more destinations: Alía, Talaván, Sierra De Fuentes, Benquerencia, Galisteo, Valdencín, Navas Del Madroño, Madroñera.

For an overview of the wider area: Cáceres.