La Alberca, San Martín de Castañar, and Mogarraz are mountain villages in the Las Batuecas-Sierra de Francia Natural Park, south of Salamanca. They feature traditional architecture with labyrinthine streets and granite houses with exposed wood, prominent eaves, and balconies. Their festivals, traditional costumes, customs, and crafts have led to their designation as Historic-Artistic Sites by UNESCO, with La Alberca recognized in 1940 and Mogarraz in 1982.
La Alberca, the most well-known and perhaps the most interesting, dates back to the Neolithic period, as evidenced by the cave paintings in Cabras Pintas, in the valleys of Las Batuecas, La Veja, and Belén. In the Middle Ages, between the 12th and 13th centuries, following the Reconquista, the region was repopulated under the reign of Alfonso IX. Many of the settlers were French-speaking, which explains the notable presence of French-origin names in the area. In the late Middle Ages, the discovery of the image of the Virgen de La Peña de Francia (1434), which later became a pilgrimage site, attracted pilgrims from the Santiago Way, especially those traveling the Southern Route, also known as the Via de la Plata. We will explore these villages through trails of indescribable beauty, surrounded by forests of oak, chestnut, walnut, and almond trees, discovering this region of immense charm. Come along!…
0 Comments