Sierra of France - Sierra de Francia

Location of Sierra de Francia in the province of Salamanca.

The Sierra of France is a spur of the Central Sistem. It is located south of the Salamanca province, Castile and Leon in Spain.

Understand

Located in the south of the province of Salamanca It includes the mountains of France and the game reserve of the Batuecas valley straddling Salamanca and the Hurdes de EstremaduraThe park is very rich in wild fauna, it is also an area with enormous monumental and anthropological value. Its typical architecture, its traditions, and its nature make it the most visited area of the province.

Context

Rock of France.

Landscape

The landscape is mid-mountain, its maximum height is The Hastiala (1730 m), although its second peak is better known, for being the most important place of worship and Catholic pilgrimage in the province, the Peña from France(1723 m) (The Cabaco), at its summit is the sanctuary of the Virgin of the Rock of France, its silhouette is visible from any point of the mountain range. The park has numerous valleys that form the rivers that originate in the area, of which the Batuecas River stands out, which forms a deep valley on the Extremaduran slope of the spectacular mountain range and which houses one of the best preserved Mediterranean forests on the peninsula. . In the lower parts of the north face the landscape is pasture, for the exploitation of cattle. On the southeast side, the landscape has been modeled with terraces of Roman origin, which are home to vine and cherry tree crops, which are an important economic source for some towns. The best places to observe the landscape are the viewpoints in the city. Sierra, among which we must highlight, The passage of the wolves on the climb to the Peña de Francia, the Summit of the Peña de Fracia, the viewpoint of the cross in Sequeros, the Alto del Portillo in the descent to the valley of the Batuecas, and the summit of the peak Cervero in Linares de Riofrio.

Flora and fauna

Among the plant species there is variation depending on the area of the natural park, where we are. Thus, on the south side, we can find holm oaks, strawberry trees, cork oaks, rockrose, and gall oaks, species typical of the Mediterranean forest, mixed with Scots pine from the repopulations carried out in the 70s and cherry trees from agricultural exploitation. On the north slope the species that we find are more typical of the continental climate here are the oak and chestnut forests which are also abundant mixed with reforestation pines.The fauna is very rich and among the most important species we have, the Iberian wolf, the wild boar, roe deer, the Hispanic goat successfully reintroduced some years ago, the wildcat, the fox, genets, as mammals to be highlighted, among the birds the raptors such as the Golden Eagle, the griffon vulture, the kite, the buzzard and the black stork, almost all of them nest in the Batuecas valley.

flora II

The region of the Sierra de Francia is a broken territory, formed in its main nucleus by an intricate depression crossed by the Alagón River.Within this geography full of secluded and intimate corners, we have to differentiate two hidden rugged valleys due to their greatness and personality and wild, places of safe refuge and perfect concealment, but from an oppressive narrowness from which it is necessary to leave from time to time to be able to free the look and the spirit ...[1]

PRSA1 Alto Alagón Route

It accompanies the flow of the Alagón river in its Salamanca passage, from its source in Frades to its entry into the lands of Cáceres, along twelve stages and 80 km signposted that link the towns of Frades de la Sierra, Endrinal, Monleón, El Tornadizo, San Esteban de la Sierra, San Miguel de Valero, again San Esteban de la Sierra, Santibáñez de la Sierra, Molinillo, Pinedas, Sotoserrano and Cabaloria.
An experience of the route:

"Saving streams through old Roman-medieval bridges, penetrating through almost impossible forests, through well-tended family gardens, through fruit fields and vineyards and resting in each of the passing towns, where good food and the comforting soup of the land will never be missing " [2]

wild Fauna

The Batuecas-Sierra de Francia Natural Park comprises a vast territory that covers almost the entire Sierra de Francia to the west of the Alagón river. It takes its name from the Batuecas valley because this is the place that preserves plant species in their purest state and contains a rich fauna, with some of the most emblematic examples of Spanish wildlife. The black stork ´ornithic jewel of the park´ has a small colony, Despite this, it has a transcendental value due to its status as a bridge between the existing populations in Las Arribes del Duero and those that inhabit Extremadura. Cuckoos, partridges, wood pigeons, turtle doves, robins, scribes, blackbirds, shrikes, myths, washerwomen, blue tit and a long list of settlers ... [3]

Mountain goats.

Weather

To get

From Salamanca along the Vecinos road, towards Tamames, El Cabaco, La Alberca.
From Rodrigo City On the Bejar road, towards El Maíllo, Peña de Francia, but if you want more spectacular views, it is best to take the Serradilla del Arroyo road, to continue towards Monsagro, along a road that runs through one of the valleys that arise. in the Peña de Francia, until you reach the Paso de los Lobos.

Municipalities

The Cabaco
The Casarito[4]
Mogarraz
San Martin del Castañar
Cepeda
Miranda del Castañar
Dryers
Garcibuey
Monforte de la Sierra
Count's Houses
Cereceda de la Sierra[5]
The Maíllo
The swimming pool
Monsagro
Santibañez de la Sierra[6]

Travel

Popular architecture in Sequeros.

Watch

Sanctuary of the Virgen de la Peña de Francia.The Cabaco
Lower House Convent.
Convent of the Zarzoso.The Cabaco
Las Batuecas Monastery.
Roman mining operations of "Las Cavenes" in The Cabaco.
The Villa of Cepeda de la Sierra

The historical artistic ensembles of:

Dryers.
San Martin del Castañar.
Miranda del Castañar.
The swimming pool.

The river valleys:

Batuecas.
France.
Alagon.[7]
Agadon.

Las Hurdes:

In the province of Cáceres, bordering Las Batuecas, immense pine forests, lost valleys of slate and water, very interesting.

Do

Activities

Workshops of Bateo de Oro at the Interpretation Center of the Romana del Oro Mining. The Cavenes del Cabaco.
Alto Alagón route PRSA1, a classic hiking adventure that accompanies the flow of the river from its source in Salamanca in Frades de la Sierra, 80 km, 12 signposted stages ...[8].

Get to know

Legend of the Quilama moorish, There is a perfectly set legend, in one of the most intricate mountainous areas in the south of the province of Salamanca: that of Queen Quilama who in ancient times lived in the cave of the same name guarding great wealth. More than one sucker has tried ...[9]

To buy

Wafers traditional sweet from Salamanca.
Iberian pork sausages Produced in the area and of excellent quality, of national fame, in this mountain range there is the only slaughterhouse that at the moment can export Iberian sausage to the United States. Fermin sausages.
Ceramics from local artisans.
Honey Produced by local artisans of exceptional purity.
Came For a few years now, a local wine called Tiriñuelo increasingly appreciated not only in the area but is being recognized nationally.

To eat

The gastronomic products of the area as in the entire province are those derived from Iberian pork meat and that in this area acquire excellent quality. Sausages and hams, are the gastronomic delights that we can find, along with roasts of pork, and lamb, grilled on the oak wood, also game dishes. Potatoes "meneas" are a typical dish of the mountains, it consists of mashed cooked potato with paprika and Iberian pork fat accompanied by pieces of bacon. In almost all the towns of the sierra you will be able to find a restaurant where you can savor the mountain gastronomy, La Alberca, Sequeros, Miranda del Castañar, and El Casarito are the ones that have a greater offer.As a recommendation, El Casarito Restaurant, founded in 1971 has a Exquisite grilled meat. ([email protected]) www.elcasarito.com

Do not eat

As most of the excessively touristy places there are hoteliers who take advantage and do not have a metro, please do not eat the el Restaurant ", from La Alberca, expensive, late and the meat insufferable, although it must be recognized that the wag potatoes and desserts are made with a certain dignity: consommé, potatoes," murdered "suckling pig cutlets and" charred "and scrawny suckling pig. desserts € 56. We went to this one because in the RestaurantThey told us that they had to fix the dining room - despite having 6 of the 10 free tables and that we signed up for the list, they would call us - it was already 3:30 pm!In order not to make another mistake, please do not buy candy in the bakery (next to the La Fuente restaurant), all stale, they went to the rubbish bin. € 15 ex-smoked !. Let La Alberca continue like this, what little favor they do to the hoteliers who do do a decent job. There is already a lot of competition in the rural world and fortunately many places to go.

Drink and go out

The area is a producer of wines and spirits, the wines framed within the D.O. Wines of the Land of Castilla y León, the best known in the area is the Tiriñuelo.

Sleep

Lodging

Rural houses

Country houses France-Quilamas Eloy Bullón 18, Santibañez de la Sierra, Telephone 916732780.[10]
Rural Manor House "EL JABALÍ ROSA" In Miranda del Castañar[11]
El Barrero rural house Calle El Barrero S / N in Sequeros, Phone 923437453.
Arrabal del Puente rural house Ronda Girón 8, in El Maíllo, Phone 638739086.[12]

Hostels

Hostal Rest. Rioalmar In El Cabaco [13]
Hostal Rest. Final In El Cabaco [14]
Hostal Rest. Cavenes In El Cabaco 923086910
Miranda County Hostel In Miranda del Castañar. Telephone: 923432026.

Hotels

Hotel Santa Teresa In La Alberca four stars. [15]
Hotel Spa Villa de Mogarraz In four-star Mogarraz. Ctra La Alberca s / n - 923418180.[16]