Discover Hornachos: Sierra Grande, Castle and Historic Trails

The Sierra Grande de Hornachos, with its Paleozoic rock, forms the physical foundation of the Zona de Interés Regional. The clear difference between its shady side and sunny side is striking. A holiday apartment in Hornachos can be compared on the respective listing page based on travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions before you decide on accommodation.

Nature

The protected area in Hornachos covers 12,000 hectares. In Extremadura, it is designated as a Zona de Interés Regional and, as part of Natura 2000, belongs to the European network of protected areas both as a Zona de Especial Conservación and as a Zona de Especial Protección para las Aves. A total of 167 different bird species occur there throughout the year.

The Sierra Grande de Hornachos provides habitat for more than 220 vertebrate species. The species mentioned include griffon vultures, golden eagles, Egyptian vultures and peregrine falcons.

Culture

A prominent architectural monument is the Iglesia de la Purísima Concepción. The church has a three-nave basilica floor plan and is covered by an imposing Mudéjar wooden ceiling. Its interior also contains a coat of arms of Charles V and an alabaster baptismal font.

The Franciscan monastery of San Ildefonso, also known as the Convento de San Francisco, was founded in 1530 as part of measures to Christianize the Moriscos. The Convento de San Francisco contains altarpieces and sculptures dating from the 16th to the 18th century.

Above the town stands the Castillo de Hornachos, an Islamic fortress on a high rock. Its construction history extends from the 9th to the 16th century.

The Oficina de Turismo de Hornachos provides visitors with a monumental route through various historic sites. Hornachos is also one of the municipalities included in the Ruta del Vino y el Cava Ribera del Guadiana.

Water and History

At the Pilar de Palomas, water from the Valle de los Moros is channelled through canals, irrigation channels and a small aqueduct with intensely red brick arches to a single outlet. The Pilar de Palomas is a monumental landmark in the Mudéjar style and one of Hornachos’s most impressive hydraulic structures.

The Fuente de los Moros is a monumental stone structure, mainly made of granite, in a square shape and dating from the 16th century; an inscription dates it to 1583. The washhouse attached to the Fuente de los Moros retained its original use by the local population until well into the 20th century.

Trails through Hornachos

The Ruta de las Hachas is 14 km long and has a low level of difficulty. The stated walking time is one hour, while the cycling time is 15 minutes. The route runs along the lower slope of the sierra, passes the ZIR and the valley of the Río Matachel, and ends at the “Las Hachas” estate. Several traditional hornachego huts and ovens can be seen there.

The 4.5-km Ruta de los Escalones-Carrascal begins and ends in Calle San Francisco. It passes through Mediterranean woodland, reaches the Castillo de Hornachos and, on the way to the village, passes the Centro de Interpretación de la Cultura Morisca. The different lengths and routes provide a clear basis for organizing excursion planning by route and theme.

The path to the Mirador de Astroturismo begins in Calle San Francisco at the level of the Oficina de Turismo and Hornachos’s visitor reception centre, and then follows the Camino de los Escalones.

More destinations

More places: Bienvenida, Carmonita, Cabeza La Vaca, Don Benito, San Vicente De Alcántara, Entrerríos, Barcarrota, Navalvillar De Pela

To the overarching travel overview: Badajoz.