Herrera del Duque between Castle, Reservoir and Nature

Casa del Conco is a 17th-century building historically associated with the Encomienda de Alcántara and containing mosaics and remains of old stables.

Culture and History

The castle of Herrera del Duque preserves its walls and inner remains. Inside, Gothic elements, a dungeon and a vaulted cistern have been preserved. The Iglesia de San Juan Bautista has three vaulted naves; its existence is documented at least as early as 1483, while the interior is designed in the Renaissance style. The Franciscan convent Convento franciscano de la Purísima Concepción was founded in 1517, moved to its present location in 1603 and is a Renaissance building. The Plaza Mayor is a historic square lined with arcades, featuring an octagonal fountain made of black polished jasper, erected in 1787. Behind Peloche, rock paintings date from the Bronze Age; they depict hunting and herding scenes, animals and idols.

Water and Nature

Playa de Peloche has two boat ramps at the Embalse de García de Sola and allows fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding and recreational boating. Playa Natural de Peloche is located on the Guadiana in Peloche within the La Siberia Biosphere Reserve. Its clean, warm waters are suitable for swimming and numerous water sports. The paved area of Playa del Espolón offers fully adapted access for people with reduced mobility, lifeguard and surveillance services, showers, public changing rooms and picnic areas. The Sierra de Peloche is designated both as a ZEPA and a ZEC under Natura 2000 and is characterised by ornithological richness and biodiversity. The Herrera–Peloche cycle path connects to Campamento Alfredo Rivas.

Trails and Views

The Sendero Portillo del Cíjara is a 19.40-kilometre circular route that can be covered on foot or by bicycle and begins at Casa del Cíjara in Herrera del Duque. It includes the Mirador del Búho and the Mirador del Portillo de Cíjara; both have visitor information facilities. The Ruta Palacio del Cíjara is 22.20 kilometres long, linear and can be completed on foot or by bicycle. It passes the Palacio–Castillo de Cíjara and offers views of the Guadiana and the Embalse de García de Sola. Another route begins at Camino de Las Navas on the N-502 and is 7.5 kilometres long; from there, it offers wide views of Herrera del Duque, Peloche and the Río Guadiana, as well as opportunities to observe birds and typical animals of the region. The different route types and distances make it easier to compare a shorter discovery tour with longer trail sections.

The Camino de Levante de Peregrinación a Guadalupe leads from Fuenlabrada de los Montes via Herrera del Duque and onwards to Castilblanco in the La Siberia comarca. The dehesa-dominated landform of Herrera del Duque is a characteristic landscape.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Herrera del Duque, you can compare travel dates, room categories and cancellation policies on the respective listing pages.

Other places: Acedera, Palomas, Helechosa De Los Montes, Higuera De Llerena, La Codosera, Villanueva del Fresno, Esparragosa De Lares, Fuente De Cantos

Festivals and Regional Cuisine

The Fiestas Patronales de San Antonio Abad in Peloche, Herrera del Duque, are recognised as intangible cultural heritage of special cultural interest (Bien de Interés Cultural). For the final four days of the novena, beginning on 14 January, the complete performance of the Danza de San Antón is scheduled to take place in the church. During these Fiestas Patronales, Canutos are prepared, preserved and sold on 17 January as a typical sweet. The festivals in Herrera del Duque feature a parade with giants and big-head figures, as well as competitions in tug-of-war, Ajoblanco and Pitarra wine. The patron saint's festival of Herrera del Duque is celebrated on 8 September and includes a procession and an auction of mangas and traditional sweets. Escarapuche is a fish dish that originally comes from Peloche, a pedanía of Herrera del Duque.

To the higher-level travel overview: Badajoz.