La Cumbre – History, Trails and Living Traditions

La Cumbre begins for visitors with a striking testament to its local history: on Plaza de España stands the granite-built pillory, erected at the end of the 16th century. It is approximately 6 metres high, has a four-tiered platform and bears the heraldic emblems of the Barrantes and Ulloa families. Its erection commemorates the town’s elevation to villa status.

Culture and History

The parish church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción is considered a single-nave Romanesque building dating from the 16th century, constructed from dressed stone and rubble masonry.

In 1519, La Cumbre was sold to Pedro Barrantes on the orders of Felipe II; this sale made the town a villa. On the façade of the Palacio de Pedro Barrantes is a coat of arms connecting seven stars with a band that ends in dragon heads; the year 1553 appears on the coat of arms.

The Casa solariega de los Barrantes is located on what is now Calle Palacio. The Palacio de Pedro Barrantes is currently divided among several families; its interior has been completely remodelled.

On the outskirts of La Cumbre stands the chapel of San Gregorio, with a single-nave body and a polygonal apse. La Puente is a historic bridge on the rural road between La Cumbre and Plasenzuela. It has three arches of unequal size; its dating to the late 15th century is based on its typological features and toponymy.

The foundation of La Cumbre is dated to the 7th century BC; evidence of Vettonian settlements has been found on the Casillas and Rodas estates.

Landscape and Trails

La Cumbre lies on a low plateau that separates the Gibranzos and Magasquilla streams.

The SL-CC 250 “El Meandro del Gibranzos” hiking trail leads to a viewpoint above a meander of the Gibranzos River. Along the river, the trail passes through slate and granite areas with native Mediterranean vegetation, including holm oaks, rockroses, broom and lavender. The Gibranzos has a deeply incised bed and highly seasonal water flow, with annual drying up in summer.

The 133-kilometre Camino de los Descubridores passes through La Cumbre and is divided into six stages for hiking. It is promoted as a pilgrimage route; Cáceres and Guadalupe are working to establish it as a permanent tourism product. The different route formats provide a basis for considering longer stages and shorter landscape experiences separately.

Festivals and Traditions

The Fiestas de Agosto in La Cumbre honour Nuestra Señora de la Asunción and include activities for children and adults, sports, bull-related events and verbenas.

The San Isidro pilgrimage includes a cultural week that has been held for 25 years, featuring theatre, folk performances and talks. The tradition of the Cruz de Mayo involves each neighbourhood putting up flower-decorated crosses at the beginning of May and holding a novena for the Virgin.

Holy Week includes a procession of the Brotherhood of the Santísimo Cristo Cautivo on Maundy Thursday and a silent procession on Good Friday.

Getting There

The main roads providing access to La Cumbre include the EX-381 towards Trujillo and Montánchez, as well as the N-521 towards Cáceres.

More Destinations

Valverde Del Fresno, Madrigal De La Vera, Horcajo, Gargüera, La Garganta, Navalmoral de la Mata, Cañamero, Abadía

For the overview of the wider destination: Cáceres.