La Rabaza between border culture and the Río Gévora

La Rabaza is a hamlet in the Spanish-Portuguese border region and lies on the border with Portugal. The village preserves elements of rayano culture. Several themes define La Rabaza: border history, river nature, and paths through the border region.

Border culture

The place name La Rabaza is considered to be of Portuguese origin. The neighbouring settlement on the other side of the border is called “La Rabaza Portuguesa”; opposite it lies “La Rabaza Española”. La Rabaza is connected with traces of smuggling in the Spanish-Portuguese border region. The settlement probably originated in the last third of the 19th century; the settlement of Portuguese families continued into the 20th century. La Rabaza is home to the Ermita de San Cristóbal, in the municipal area of La Codosera in the province of Badajoz.

Nature

La Rabaza borders the Sierra de San Mamede and the Río Gévora. In the Reserva Natural Fluvial del Río Gévora, the riverside vegetation is well preserved; it is characterised by stands of alder trees (Alnus glutinosa) and ash forests. The well-preserved ecosystem of the Río Gévora is home to a great variety of animal and plant species. The upper course of the Río Gévora, which flows through La Codosera, is designated as a ZEPA and forms part of the European Natura 2000 network.

For planning your own trip, these themes can be considered side by side: the border location tells a different story from the river environment, while the vegetation represents a distinct natural focus. You can compare cultural and nature-related interests without conflating them.

Water and paths

The Complejo de las Piscinas Naturales del Río Gévora consists of constantly flowing natural river water; the water is not hygienically treated as it would be in a conventional swimming pool. A prior appointment is required to visit the Centro de Interpretación Río Gévora. The La Rabaza–Cascada de Cabroeira (Portugal)–Piscinas de La Codosera route begins in La Rabaza and follows a hiking trail that crosses the border between Spain and Portugal. The route leads to the Cascada de Cabreiroa; it is also known as the Cascada de Cabroeira. The Río Gévora is the only trout river in the province of Badajoz and is visited by many anglers each season.

When planning, you can distinguish between hiking, the river environment, and fishing, while placing cultural references alongside them as a separate focus. The different themes offer different ways of discovering La Rabaza.

Regional cuisine

Brasería Portugal is located in the Caserío de La Rabaza on the road from La Codosera to the Aldea de la Rabaza. Its cuisine combines Extremaduran and Lusitanian cuisine.

More places to explore: Almendralejo, Orellana La Vieja, Villanueva De La Serena, Badajoz, Valdelacalzada, Feria, Monterrubio de la Serena and Hornachos.

To the higher-level travel overview: Badajoz.