Segura de León: Culture, Castle and Dehesa

Segura de León combines culture, local tradition and landscape in a variety of forms. Buildings, a collection, a fixed-date event and natural landscapes provide several specific themes for planning your own trip.

Culture and History

The Castillo Santiaguista was rebuilt in the 14th century by the Order of Santiago. Its layout is irregular and adapted to the terrain. The Castillo is currently used for tourist visits. Its architectural details invite visitors to consider not only the period in which it was built, but also its layout and present-day use.

The Convento de San Benito has a double Mudéjar cloister with shallow-segmental round arches. The permanent exhibition at the Museo y Centro de Estudios de la Capea Eduardo Casquete features an extensive landscape collection donated by the painter Antonio Casquete de Prado from Segura de León. The collection thus connects the museum's name with landscape painting and an artist from Segura de León.

An inscription dated to 1299 on the north door dedicates the Iglesia Parroquial Ntra. Sra. de la Asunción to Santa María. The Iglesia Parroquial de Segura de León was declared a cultural heritage site as a Bien de Interés Cultural in the “Monument” category.

Festivals and Local Tradition

Las Capeas is a festival of tourist interest in Extremadura. It is celebrated in honour of Cristo de la Reja from 13 to 18 September. Las Capeas includes extensive September capeas, during which around twenty young bulls provided daily by local cattle breeders are ridden or used in bullfighting by young men in the “corralá”.

Those considering September as a time to travel can treat Las Capeas as a separate focus alongside the other cultural and landscape impressions. The festival in its full form differs clearly from a visit focused on architecture, an inscription or a collection.

Landscape and Nature

The dehesa of Segura de León comprises naturally occurring Mediterranean woodland with holm oaks, cork oaks and pine trees. At Los Molinillos, the remains of the so-called “de Dominguito” mill have been preserved. There is also a large quartz and slate rock formation, from which visitors can enjoy a picturesque panorama and experience nature.

For planning purposes, the woodland, rock formation and mill remains can be considered as distinct landscape perspectives alongside one another. In this way, the natural environment, the rock and the preserved built heritage each represent a separate approach to the places mentioned.

The three details provide a factual framework for planning, while the desired focus can be on culture, festival tradition or landscape.

Further Places

Further destinations in the same regional context: Granja de Torrehermosa, Fuenlabrada De Los Montes, Navalvillar De Pela, Valdecaballeros, Orellana La Vieja, Fuente Del Maestre, Calera De León, Higuera La Real.

For the higher-level travel overview: Badajoz.