San Martín de Trevejo – A Fala, Townscape and Trails

Discover San Martín de Trevejo

San Martín de Trevejo is one of the three places where A Fala, the intangible cultural heritage language of the Xálima Valley, is spoken. The other two places are Eljas and Valverde del Fresno. In 2001, A Fala was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest by the Junta of Extremadura.

The decorated stelae of San Martín de Trevejo are among the earliest evidence of human presence in the Sierra de Gata.

Culture and Townscape

The Conjunto de San Martín de Trevejo is recognised as an Asset of Cultural Interest in the category of Historic Site; the designation was awarded because of the well-preserved condition of its architecture. Traditional architecture includes houses with at least two storeys and a mostly stone ground floor or cellar where livestock was kept.

The upper floors rest on a framework of wood and clay. Stone benches and manor houses bearing coats of arms are also common. Since 2019, San Martín de Trevejo has been a member of the Asociación Los pueblos más bonitos de España.

The parish church of San Martín de Tours stands in the centre of the town. It has three naves and preserves three 16th-century paintings by the painter Luis de Morales, who came from Badajoz and was known as El Divino. The bell tower on the Plaza Mayor bears an imperial coat of arms.

The Plaza Mayor is lined with arcades and has a fountain, or pilón, in its centre. According to tradition, the Convento de San Miguel was founded on the recommendation of Saint Francis of Assisi; in 1454, Pope Nicholas II approved the construction of the convent that exists today.

A former 12th-century oil mill, together with an adjoining press, once housed the Museo del Aceite y del Vino. A festival in honour of San Martín de Tours is documented in San Martín de Trevejo for 11 and 12 November.

Landscape and Trails

The Camino de Trevejo a Jálama is a 16.32-kilometre-long, historic and entirely public path. It connects the hamlet of Trevejo with Villamiel and San Martín de Trevejo and continues to the summit of Jálama. Almost its entire route passes through Natura 2000 sites, including the ZEPA “Sierra de Gata y Valle de las Pilas” and the ZEC “Sierra de Gata”.

The SL-CC 208 hiking trail runs along the Río de la Vega through a riparian forest with protected understorey plants, through oak woodland, and past traditional hay meadows and small gardens maintained by local residents.

The larger of the two distinctive chestnut trees stands at Castaños del Cobijo, also known as de los Ojestos. Its trunk circumference at a height of 1.30 metres is 6.90 metres, and its crown is more than 17 metres wide. Castaños del Cobijo or de los Ojestos has been included as an Árbol Singular in Extremadura’s network of protected natural areas.

The signposted A-Fala route passes through San Martín de Trevejo, Eljas and Valverde del Fresno. It runs through extensive oak forests, past centuries-old chestnut trees and along a beautiful paved path.

Local Cuisine

Dishes served in the town include ensalada de naranja, almodu de pibitas y berzas, esparragau and bizcochos mañegos.

When searching for a holiday apartment in San Martín de Trevejo, you can compare travel dates, room categories and cancellation policies on the respective listing pages.

Other Places

Other town pages that you can open from here include Jarilla, Fresnedoso De Ibor, Membrío, Herrera De Alcántara, Gargüera, Cedillo, Malpartida De Cáceres and Casas de Miravete.

To the higher-level travel overview: Cáceres.