If you fancy a stroll through the Villuercas Ibores Jara Geopark, There’s a must-see stop at Castañar de Ibor to see the chestnut trees in Calabazas. Mind you, it’s not just one tree, but a a set of seventeen copies which look as though they have stepped out of an ancient fable. What makes them special is not just their imposing size, but their age; some of these giants are over seven hundred years old, which means they were already there before Isabella the Catholic or Christopher Columbus were even born.

The most curious thing is its resilience. Despite the passing of the centuries and having traditionally been exploited for their timber and chestnuts, they have developed hollow, gnarled trunks with almost sculptural forms. To walk amongst them is to understand the symbiotic relationship between humankind and the natural environment. These are trees that have nourished generations and which today, having retired from their productive role, They stand like living monuments in the gorge from which they take their name. From Calabazas, of course.