Monfragüe Routes - Palacio Viejo de Las Corchuelas

DISTANCE: FROM 10,5 TO 16 KM // DURATION: FROM 3 TO 6 HOURS

The RED route: from Villarreal to Monfragüe Castle

At the Fuente del Francés, a fountain, you can refresh yourself and take a rest in the picnic area. You’ll see the house of the peones camineros, where the people in charge of maintaining the Camino Real, an old road that linked Extremadura with Castile, used to live. If you are feeling adventurous, you can climb up to Monfragüe Castle, which has the best views of the park. The chapel houses the figure of Our Lady of Monfragüe. The red route also takes you to a cave with drawings depicting people and hunting scenes, made by the first inhabitants of the park. Prehistoric men and women lived in caves like this one. It is possible to visit the cave, but only accompanied by a guide. One of the most spectacular spots in Monfragüe is the Salto del Gitano, a 300 metres high cliff which towers over the Tagus River. From the viewpoint you can observe the different birds that fly over the area.

FROM VILLARREAL TO THE FUENTE DEL FRANCÉS // DISTANCE: 3 KM // DURATION: 35 MINUTES ON FOOT // DIFFICULTY: DESCENT ALONG THE GENTLY SLOPED CAÑADA REAL

Part 1

You can go from Villarreal to the Fuente del Francés by car or on foot. If you go by car, take the EX-208 road (2.5 km). If you go on foot, take the Cañada Real until you pass along the huts of Villarreal. Go down the cattle track to the Puente del Cardenal. If the bridge is covered with water due to the risen levels of the Alcántara reservoir, you must continue along the road and cross over the Puente Nuevo. After crossing the bridge, take the old road that continues along the Cañada Real, until you reach the Fuente del Francés.

FROM THE FUENTE DEL FRANCÉS TO MONFRAGÜE CASTLE // DISTANCE: 2 KM // TIME: FROM 45 TO 60 MINUTES // DIFFICULTY: UPHILL PATH THROUGH THICK VEGETATION

Part 3

From the Fuente del Francés there is a path with a lot of shady vegetation, which grows in places with little or no sunshine. This path leads to Monfragüe Castle. Part of the path is a steep climb. Once at the top, you will see the castle and the hermitage of the Virgen de Monfragüe. From the top of the tower you have a beautiful view of the park and the dehesas.

FROM THE FUENTE DEL FRANCÉS TO THE CASA DE LOS PEONES CAMINEROS (ROAD WORKER’S HOUSE) // DISTANCE: 2.8 KM // TIME: FROM 45 TO 60 MINUTES // DIFFICULTY: THE FIRST PART IS A STEEP INCLINE AND IT IS A CIRCULAR ROUTE

Part 4

From the Fuente del Francés take the path that enters the shady side of the sierra and passes the road workers’ house. The first kilometre is a steep incline. The rest of the way is all downhill.

FROM SALTO DEL GITANO TO MONFRAGÜE CASTLE // DISTANCE: 2.7 KM // TIME: BETWEEN 45 AND 60 MINUTES // DIFFICULTY: NOT VERY DIFFICULT, WITH MODERATE INCLINES ON AN EASY SURFACE

Part 6

A little further on from the Salto del Gitano, there is a path that leads up to the Castillo crossing. Half of the path is flat, the rest is uphill. Along the way you will see lavender trees, holm oaks and a forest of century old wild olive trees. There are also two hackberry trees. On the other side is the cave with its rock-drawings.

DISTANCE: 8,5 KM // DURATION: 3 HOURS

The YELLOW route: from Villarreal to Mirador de la Tajadilla

This is an easy route with gentle climbs. You will pass through orchards, pastures and scrubland. The dehesas are fields where holm oaks and cork oaks grow and where animals graze. From the Tajadilla viewpoint you can see griffon vultures, Egyptian vultures and black storks. La Tajadilla is a large wall that separates the Tiétar River from the Tagus. You will see the Charco del Infierno, where the river Tiétar meanders, making a sharp bend. Along the way there are fountains where you can refresh yourself.

FROM VILLARREAL TO THE FUENTE DE LOS TRES CAÑOS // DISTANCE: 2.2 KM // DURATION: 45 MINUTES // DIFFICULTY: A COUPLE OF EASY INCLINES

Part 1

From Villarreal you can take two paths. One path goes up to the heliport, an area for helicopters to land, and follows the stone wall. The other path takes you along the Cañada Real until you pass the huts of Villarreal and arrive at the Huerto del Almez, which features a very large tree. Where the two paths join, a dehesa area begins. From the Fuente del Alisar, the path passes through old eucalyptus fields. You will encounter a second fountain, the Fuente de los Tres Caños. It is a good place to rest.

FROM LA FUENTE DE LOS TRES CAÑOS TO TAJADILLA // DISTANCE: 2.3 KM // DURATION: 45 MINUTES // DIFFICULTY: SOME RELATIVELY EASY UPHILL CLIMBS

Part 2

Take the path that leads away from the Fuente de los Tres Caños. The river Tiétar runs at the end of the path. At the Charco del Infierno, where the river meanders, Egyptian vultures nest. This section ends at the Mirador de la Tajadilla viewpoint, where you can see griffon vultures, Egyptian vultures and kites. Return to the Fuente de los Tres Caños by the same route.

DISTANCE: 7,5 KM // DURATION: 2:30 HOURS

The GREEN route: from Arroyo de Malvecino to Cerro Gimio

This is a long route with abundant riverside vegetation. It follows the course of the Arroyo Malvecino on its right and left banks. Wooden footbridges allow you to cross it without getting wet. From the top of the Gimio Hill you can see the remains of a Roman tower and enjoy beautiful panoramic views of the Salto del Gitano, the Tagus River and the Barbaón and Malvecino streams. Here you may also see the nest of a black vulture.

FROM VILLARREAL DE SAN CARLOS TO THE BRIDGE OVER THE MALVECINO STREAM // DISTANCE: 2.8 KM // DURATION: FROM 45 TO 60 MINUTES // DIFFICULTY: EASY DESCENT

Part 1

At the entrance to Villarreal de San Carlos cross the EX-208 road and continue along a broad path between stone walls that separate fields and properties. 800 metres further down the road there is a turning on the right. Take the marked path that runs along the left side of the Malvecino stream for about 2 km. It ends at a wooden. From there you can choose two options to continue this hike: part 2 or part 3.

FROM THE MALVECINO STREAM BRIDGE TO GIMIO HILL // DISTANCE: 1 KM // DURATION: 30 MINUTES // DIFFICULTY: UPHILL PATH WITH A STEEP SLOPE AT THE BEGINNING

Part 2

From the wooden bridge the path takes you 500 metres up a steep slope to the base of the Cerro. From here, you have to climb another 500 metres along an easier road to the Cerro Gimio viewpoint, which is an excellent spot to take in the landscape of Monfragüe. You can see the remains of a Roman tower, the nest of a black vulture, the Salto del Gitano, the Tajo River and the Barbaón and Malvecino streams.

PATH ALONG THE MALVECINO STREAM // DISTANCE: 900 METRES // DURATION: FROM 30 TO 45 MINUTES // DIFFICULTY: EASY PATH WITH WOODEN WALKWAYS

Part 3

From the lower bridge over the Malvecino you can also take the route along the right bank of the stream. There are many footbridges to cross the stream. The area is cool and pleasant, with riverside vegetation. You can see specimens of ash, strawberry tree and cornicabra. After some twenty minutes you will arrive at another wooden bridge that crosses the stream. On the other side there is a picnic area with tables. To continue the walk, cross the bridge again and follow along the left bank.

FROM THE STONE BRIDGE TO THE GIMIO HILL // DISTANCE: 1.5 KM // DURATION: 45 MINUTES // DIFFICULTY: UPHILL WITH MEDIUM GRADIENT

Part 4

This part starts where part 3 ends and leads up to Cerro Gimio. The walk is easier than in part 2. Before going up, you should have a look at the stone bridge that is a little further on, on the right. It was built using very old techniques. The path leads up to Cerro Gimio on the sunny side of the stream. It has a gentle slope and is 1.5 kilometres long.

FROM THE STONE BRIDGE TO VILLARREAL DE SAN CARLOS // DISTANCE: 2 KM // DURATION: 50 MINUTES // DIFFICULTY: EVEN PATH WITH LITTLE INCLINE

Part 5

From the stone bridge you can return to Villarreal de San Carlos along the right bank of the stream. After about 250 metres you have to cross a small wooden footbridge that leads to a broad path. Follow this path on the right side of the stream to the bridge over the Malvecino stream, 600 metres further on. The bridge is made of wood with slate pillars, and is surrounded by alders and ash trees. It is a cool place where you can rest. The climb up to Villarreal is 1.1 km long and very easy.