Discover Alburquerque: Medieval Heritage, Nature and Regional Delicacies

Alburquerque combines Castillo de Luna, protected historic sites, trails through the Sierra and regional tastings. Castillo de Luna is a medieval fortress and was declared a national monument in 1924. Construction of the fortress and its defensive structures began in the 13th century. It includes a keep and the Tower of the Five Spires, connected by a pointed arch with a drawbridge.

Culture

In the courtyard of Castillo de Luna stands the Iglesia de Santa María del Castillo, a late-Romanesque three-nave church that is not currently used for worship. Along the hillside below the castle stretches Villa Adentro, also known as Barrio de la Teta Negra: a walled medieval quarter with houses whose pointed granite door arches have been preserved. The Puerta de la Villa, also known as Puerta de Belén, features a projecting square tower, an open chapel added later and a bell gable. The Puerta de Valencia is flanked by two 13-metre-high cylindrical towers and has two gateways, one with a round arch and the other with a pointed arch.

The Iglesia de Santa María del Mercado contains a Renaissance high altar from the 16th century and a polychrome wooden statue of the Virgen de la Candelaria from the 15th century. Next to the church are anthropomorphic graves carved into the rock and used as communal burial sites. The Plaza de Toros is an isolated protected element within Alburquerque’s protected historic ensemble. The old town is designated a Bien de Interés Cultural, meaning a cultural asset of special cultural interest.

The rock art at the Abrigo del Risco de San Blas includes schematic Bronze Age paintings and was declared a national monument in 1942. The Ermita de Santiago o de los Santiagos in the municipality of Alburquerque is considered a ruined religious building; preserved features include murals depicting warriors and four carved stones with horseshoe-arch reliefs. The Museo Etnográfico Juan Castaño displays agricultural tools and old household objects, including Aurelio Cabrera’s bedroom. The Centro de Interpretación del Medievo presents historical illustrated panels about medieval Extremadura, castles and fortifications, projections of all the castles in Extremadura, a model of Alburquerque, and information about the history of the town, its monuments and festivals.

The Iglesia de Santa María del Mercado can be visited on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. To visit the Abrigo del Risco de San Blas, contact the Oficina de Turismo de Alburquerque. The Museo Etnográfico Juan Castaño is located in the medieval quarter and can be visited by contacting its owner. The Oficina de Turismo provides information about attractions and activities worth experiencing in the surrounding area and advises on suitable routes and activities.

Nature and Trails

Alburquerque is located in the Sierra de San Pedro. The surrounding area includes mountain landscapes and extensive holm-oak dehesas, much of which is designated as a protected natural area. The municipal hiking options include the PR-BA 100 in the Sierra de los Picorros, a 15.3-kilometre circular hike. They also include the PR-BA 128, a 15.5-kilometre linear route between Alburquerque, Carrión and Los Riscos. The different route formats and almost identical lengths make it easier to compare various day-planning options.

Festivals and Regional Delicacies

The Festival Medieval Villa de Alburquerque takes place every year in the second half of August and is recognised as a festival of regional tourist interest. The Festival Contem-pop-ránea for alternative music has been held every July in Alburquerque since 1996.

The official Ruta del Queso includes cultural visits in Alburquerque that conclude with tastings. Quesería Doña Leonor de Alburquerque offers a guided visit with a tasting of its products. During a guided wine-tourism visit, Bodega Encina Blanca combines a tour of the wine presses carved into the rock and the winery with access to a panoramic room overlooking the vineyards and Alburquerque. This includes a tasting of three wines with local tapas. The “De la dehesa a la mesa” experience includes a visit to Risco Extremeño and a ham tasting.

Other Places

Other places: Acedera, Los Santos De Maimona, Monesterio, Higuera La Real, Aljucén, Burguillos, La Parra, La Rabaza

To the overview of the higher-level destination: Badajoz.