Discover Hinojal: Slate, Festivals and Hiking Trails

Hinojal’s traditional architecture includes whitewashed slate buildings and characteristic chimneys.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Hinojal, you can compare your travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions on the respective accommodation pages and match the information to your preferred focus on culture, nature, festivals or hiking trails.

Architecture and History

At the northern edge of Hinojal, the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción was built between the late 15th and early 16th centuries using slate rubble masonry with granite blocks. Its interior includes side altars with religious frescoes dedicated to the Dolorosa and the Nazareno, as well as a gilded altarpiece from the mid-20th century.

The Molino de Pedro Arias mill preserves its granite stone milling floor; its outer walls are made of slate and masonry. The Casa de los Guardas also stands in Hinojal’s Dehesa Boyal: a round slate-built chozo with six niches, a fireplace and wall engravings left by former inhabitants.

The Piedra Escrita at Huerta de la Laguna records the construction of the lagoon wall in 1805. The lagoon was later converted into a managed huerta; the enclosure of this huerta partly consists of the wall. Hinojal’s archaeological heritage also includes a Roman road. La Puente is a single-span bridge with an irregular semicircular arch and two rectangular overflow openings; it already existed in 1657.

Nature and Trails

Holm oaks, rockroses, Portuguese oaks and natural scrubland grow in Hinojal’s Dehesa Boyal. The landscapes of the Riberos del Almonte can be enjoyed along the EX-390 road. Hinojal can be reached via the A-66 motorway.

The Ruta de la Lana–Los Rodetes hiking route in Hinojal is 10.5 kilometres long and is classified as easy. The Hinojal–Rio Tajo route measures 4.06 kilometres, has an elevation gain of 155 metres and has a technical difficulty rating of “moderate”. The different lengths and difficulty ratings provide a brief comparison of the two routes.

In late autumn, cranes visit Hinojal and seek food and shelter in protected natural areas classified as ZEPA, such as the Embalse de Talaván and the Embalse de Alcántara.

Other destinations in this selection include Palomero, Torremocha, Aldeacentenera, Villar De Plasencia, Campo Lugar, Losar De La Vera, Cadalso and El Gordo.

Festivals and Religious Sites

Santo Toribio is celebrated in Hinojal on 16 April. If the date falls on a weekday, the celebration is postponed until the following Saturday. The festival includes a mass in the chapel, the auction of the saint’s carrying poles and a procession around the Ermita. The following day, the celebrations continue as the “Día de la ensalá”, when local residents gather to enjoy the traditional salad.

During the San Sebastián festival, the Cantaores wear regular soldiers’ uniforms and sing songs in honour of the saint. Las Candelas, also known as Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, is celebrated in Hinojal on 2 February with a Marian procession and a mass.

The Ermita de San Berto is a small chapel belonging to the San Bartolomé brotherhood; it originated during the period of the Knights Templar and is located west of Hinojal. Its square floor plan, slate slab walls, sober military character and simple sgraffito decoration inside define its architectural features. The Ermita de San Berto is probably considered a rural religious building with late Gothic characteristics and unfinished construction.

The Ermita de San Juan has existed since the 17th century. It has a rectangular floor plan, was built from whitewashed slate rubble masonry and is privately owned.

To the overarching travel overview: Cáceres.