Magacela: Holiday apartments among castles, rocks and history

Magacela is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural in the category Conjunto Histórico.

Other places you can visit on these pages include Montemolín, La Codosera, Bienvenida, Azuaga, Don Alvaro, Montijo, Jerez De Los Caballeros and Esparragosa De Lares.

Culture

The protected cultural heritage also includes the Conjunto de Hornos de Magacela, which is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural in the category Lugar de Interés Etnológico. It comprises a total of 21 kilns: some were used for firing bricks, while others were used to produce lime. The fortified perimeter of the Castillo de Magacela follows the elongated rocky ridge, extends for more than 250 metres and is up to 65 metres wide in places. The Iglesia del Castillo preserves masonry from a Muslim mosque that was later remodelled and extended after the Reconquista. One of Magacela’s ermitas was the church of the old priory monastery of the Order of Alcántara, which has now disappeared completely; the old priory palace was also located immediately beside it.

Nature and activities

In addition to the well-known Peña de “El Búho”, Magacela has a climbing school for beginners in rock climbing. It is just a few metres from the town and is easily accessible from the road to the Castillo. The route through the Conjunto Histórico is 2.6 kilometres long, takes about an hour on foot and has a low level of difficulty. Magacela has up to eight sites with rock paintings in caves and under rock overhangs, where the schematic style predominates; the Peña del Águila site is considered the most accessible. The Dolmen de Magacela lies northeast of the rocky outcrop on which Magacela was built, in the Los Tejares area, 10 metres from a picnic area, and is very easy to reach by car.

The Ruta de las Aves Esteparias y los Hornos de Cal is 18 kilometres long and can be completed by bicycle in about 1 hour and 15 minutes. For planning your day, the different distances, durations and modes of transport can be considered side by side. This places a short walking tour alongside a considerably longer cycling route with its own stated duration; the choice can be based on the time available and the preferred mode of transport, without equating the two routes.

History and tradition

The Centro de Interpretación del Camino Mozárabe de Magacela presents the history, nature, culture and people of this pilgrimage route to Santiago, which connects Andalusia with Galicia and passes through Extremadura and Castile and León. The traditional Romería in honour of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios takes place on Easter Monday near the Ermita and in the Berrocal area. Magadieval features music, street theatre, percussion and a craft market, which is repeated from 8 p.m. on each of the three days of the event.

For the broader travel overview: Badajoz.