Yecla De Yeltes: Castro, History and Landscape

Yecla de Yeltes combines an archaeological focus with a landscape shaped by rivers, trails and dehesas. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Yecla de Yeltes, you can choose what to focus on: the fortified sites, their historical context or the landscape. The following places and trails offer specific ways to explore these themes.

Castro and traces of history

Castro de Yecla la Vieja lies on rocky terrain where the Huebra River meets the Varlaña stream. Castro El Castillo is surrounded by a thick granite wall enclosing an area of approximately five hectares. The Castro de Yecla de Yeltes was inhabited by the Vettones around 500 BC and remained in use during the Roman period. This timeline runs from Vettonian settlement through to use in Roman times. Within the fortified site of Yecla la Vieja stands the Ermita de la Virgen del Castillo; its origins may date to the Late Romanesque period. Alongside the fortifications and their location by the water, the focus is therefore also on historical periods of use and a building that may date from the Late Romanesque period.

Models and historical context

The Aula Arqueológica de Yecla de Yeltes is located in the town’s Plaza Mayor. It houses a model of the Castro site, as well as explanatory drawings and photographs. The model conveys the layout of the site, while the images provide additional context. The Museo del Castro de Yecla la Vieja offers a different perspective: it takes visitors on a journey through time from the 5th century BC to the Middle Ages. Together, these themes offer two distinct ways to explore the town’s history, from the layout of the site to a long historical period.

Circular trails and the landscape along the Huebra

The Circuito de Yecla de Yeltes circular trail starts in the town of Yecla de Yeltes. Its starting point is the Ermita de Santiago Apóstol, built on a Late Romanesque cemetery. The trail is therefore linked to a specific historic building. The Camino de los Vados del Río Huebra takes a different route, passing stone walls, dozens of chozos, lagoons and ponds, as well as mills. River crossings include footbridges or rows of large stones. Dehesas make up a large part of the landscape along the trail. Holm oaks and Pyrenean oaks grow there, and the dehesas also provide a habitat for several bird species. Trail conditions vary by season, so check them before setting out. To choose based on your interests, there is a clear distinction: the Circuito starts at a historic site, while the Camino foregrounds the river and pastureland.

Views of the Duero

A few kilometres from Yecla de Yeltes, you can enjoy views of the Duero as it flows through the Arribes del Duero Nature Park from various routes and viewpoints. This perspective complements the Huebra landscape and the archaeological sites with another river view in the region.

Discover more destinations: Zarapicos, Pelabravo, Carrasco, Villasrubias, Serradilla Del Arroyo, Nava de Francia, Galinduste, Aldeagutiérrez.

For the broader travel overview: Salamanca.