There are journeys that begin on a road and end in a landscape. This one begins in Alcántara, amongst rocks that have been here for centuries, and ends in Monfragüe, where it’s worth looking up. Or in every direction.
Along the way, you’ll come across dolmens, castles, rivers, pastures and border villages. The road shifts from history to the countryside almost without warning. And when you reach the Tagus, it’s time to change pace: walk, sail, look up.
Two days to explore part of the region at your own pace, with some unmissable stops and others that could well become the highlight of the trip.
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➸ DAY 01 (96 km) · See map
Alcántara → Zarza la Mayor → Portezuelo
➸ DAY 02 (68 km) · See map
→ Mirabel → Serradilla → Malpartida de Plasencia
Rome left a bridge here
The perfect start. Rome left behind a bridge here that has been serving as a bridge for almost two thousand years. And what a bridge it is. But Alcántara is much more than just its bridge: stately streets, the Convent of San Benito, the legacy of the Order of Alcántara, and a history that can be explored at a leisurely pace on foot.
Silence, Peña Buraca
There are places that work precisely because they don’t seem to have been designed for tourism. The Buraca rock formation is one of them. Rock, scenery and a touch of mystery. Just enough to make you stop, look around and wonder what on earth happened here. You don’t need to have all the answers. Sometimes, that’s part of the journey too.
Zarza la Mayor and a castle overlooking the neighbouring village
We arrive in Zarza la Mayor and the landscape begins to tell a different story. Peñafiel Castle, also known as Racha Rachel, overlooks the River Erjas as if keeping watch for centuries were the most natural thing in the world. And, in fact, it almost is. For a long time, this border was a place of transit, conflict, trade and smuggling. Today, we can explore it with far greater peace of mind.
If Ramiro’s pots could talk
From here on, we stop looking at what we have built and start looking at what the Earth has built. Ramiro’s rock formations offer a glimpse of what lies ahead. The stone ceases to be a bridge, a dolmen or a fortress and begins to become part of the landscape. Towering quartzite walls, a river, pastureland and a wealth of biodiversity that make this place one of the route’s most spectacular natural settings.
Portezuelo Castle
Another castle. Another story. And a rock that’s a few million years old. Marmionda Castle dominates the landscape of Portezuelo and adds another layer of history to the route. Legend speaks of love, tragedy and unhappy endings. Geology, meanwhile, carries on regardless. The spectacular Armorican quartzite serves as a reminder that long before there were castles, borders or legends, things were already happening here. And quite significant ones at that.
END
This is a good place to stop. To look back and reflect on the journey: we have left the Tajo Internacional behind and are now on the outskirts of Monfragüe. Tomorrow, the road will continue towards Mirabel, Serradilla and the heart of the biosphere reserve, amidst quartzite formations, dehesas and sweeping landscapes. That’s enough for today. The castle has already served as a lookout and is beginning to catch sight of large birds of prey in flight.
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