Discover Ciudad-Rodrigo: History and Hotels

Ciudad-Rodrigo offers several starting points for planning a trip: fortifications with a long history, museum collections, Carnaval del Toro and paths along the Águeda. If you are looking for a hotel in Ciudad-Rodrigo, you can plan your stay around whether you are most interested in the city’s history, cultural events, or nature and outdoor activities.

City Fortifications and Historic Buildings

The oldest enclosure of the city wall dates from the second half of the 12th century. In the 18th century, the fortifications were modernized with embrasures, moats, guardhouses, bastions and ravelins. This gave them their distinctive star shape, based on the modern bastioned system of the French engineer Vauban. The different elements illustrate how the city’s fortifications evolved over the centuries.

The Adarve, the walkway along the city wall, is accessible along much of the wall’s perimeter. From there, you can enjoy views of the surrounding area and the historic positions of the French besiegers in 1810 and the British in 1812. Another perspective on the defensive system is offered by the Ruta de las seis puertas: The route is 2.2 kilometers long, has a low level of difficulty and passes gates, moats, glacis, ravelins and guardhouses. At the Puerta del Conde, the guardhouse open to visitors houses the Centro de Interpretación de Fortificaciones.

The Catedral de Nuestra Señora de Santa María also brings together different building phases: It began in the 12th century as a fortified church and was completed in the following century in the Gothic style. The Castillo de Enrique II de Trastámara was built in the 14th century on the city’s highest and steepest ground. Its keep consists of two cubic structures; since 1931, the castle has been a Parador Nacional.

Museums, Exhibitions and Carnaval del Toro

Carnaval del Toro is a five-day festival that brings together bulls, fancy dress, music and street celebrations. The carnival includes bull events in the streets and in a specially built arena, as well as other events on the streets of Ciudad-Rodrigo. The individual programs vary from year to year. If you are planning your stay around the festival, check the specific event dates and program details.

The Museo catedralicio y diocesano brings together several types of collection, including prehistoric pieces, architectural elements from the cathedral and liturgical objects. Notable exhibits include a bishop’s crozier from the 12th century, processional crosses and the Breviary of Isabel la Católica. The Museo del Orinal contains more than 1,350 pieces from 29 nationalities and is said to be the only museum of its kind in Spain. The Palacio de los Águila houses the permanent exhibition “Ciudad Rodrigo en la Guerra de la Independencia: Wellington frente a Napoleón.”

Parque de La Glorieta has a children’s play area. Traditionally, the park has also hosted performances and concerts, for example at the Templete de La Glorieta.

Along the Águeda: Routes and Nature

The Ruta de la naturaleza offers two easy walks that differ mainly in length and destination: The shorter route covers about 3.1 kilometers to El Paraje, while the longer one covers approximately 10 kilometers to the Monasterio de la Caridad. Both distances are approximate.

The Águeda’s riverside landscape is also notable for its wildlife. Trees growing there include alder, ash and poplar. Waterbirds include herons, mallards, wagtails, kingfishers, spoonbills and ibises; amphibians, reptiles and mammals such as the otter are also found there, as are fish such as barbels and pike. The area around La Pesquera and El Picón is particularly suitable for a range of sports and leisure activities in and around the river.

For night-sky viewing, Observaciones Andrómeda offers educational astronomy sessions with Starlight astronomy guides and two powerful telescopes. Viewing targets include the Moon, planets, other bodies in the Solar System and deep-sky objects. For those also interested in archaeological sites: the Siega Verde area lies on the Águeda about 15 kilometers downstream from Ciudad-Rodrigo. On 1 August 2010, it was declared a World Heritage Site as an extension of the Archaeological Park in the Côa Valley.

Discover More Destinations

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For the main travel overview: Salamanca.