Santibáñez El Alto: Castle, Dehesa and Trails in the Sierra de Gata

Santibáñez El Alto is located at an altitude of 679 metres above sea level in the Sierra de Gata. The Castillo de Santibáñez el Alto has Arab origins dating back to the 9th century.

The settlement was fortified, and the castle was rebuilt in the 11th and 12th centuries by the Templars of the Order of Pereiro. It was later further remodelled by the Order of Alcántara. Today, the castle houses the village cemetery on its parade ground and also serves as a viewpoint over nearby mountain ranges, including Pico Jálama, Puerto de Perales and Las Jañonas.

Culture

The parish church of San Pedro Apóstol is located near the castle. Its Chapel of the Nobles has a stone ribbed vault and a Talavera tile frieze. The Ermita del Santo Cristo de la Victoria is a small square 17th-century building with an elaborate depiction of the crucified Christ.

The Rollo of Santibáñez el Alto is a 16th-century pillory built on three steps and topped with a cross. Two human heads are set into the façade of a house near the bullring. According to the current owner, they represent a Moor and a Moorish woman and originally came from the castle’s palace building, where they served as guardians of the main entrance.

Los Pajares is protected as an Asset of Cultural Interest (Bien de Interés Cultural) in the category of Site of Ethnological Interest. The area lies in a landscape of Dehesa, pastureland and Mediterranean vegetation with wild olive trees, oaks and holm oaks. Los Pajares can be reached via a partially paved road from the C-513.

Nature and Trails

The Spanish section of the cross-border GR22 covers 227 kilometres and passes through 13 places in the north of the province of Cáceres, including Santibáñez el Alto. The scenic EX-205 road connects Santibáñez el Alto and Valverde del Fresno over 37 kilometres and passes through distinctive landscapes of the Sierra de Gata.

The circular SL-CC 204 Los Pajares hiking trail starts at Paseo de Calvo Sotelo and descends to the livestock district of Los Pajares. The PR-CC 181 Valle del Tralgas route includes a third stage from Santibáñez el Alto to Torre de Don Miguel. Santibáñez el Alto also has the designated natural swimming area Piscina Natural Puente de la Reina.

An area in Santibáñez el Alto serves as a wintering ground for cranes, waterfowl and gulls.

Other places: Robledillo De Gata, Abadía, Erías, Cilleros, Carrascalejo, Zarza de Montánchez, Belvís De Monroy, Casares de las Hurdes

For a holiday apartment in Santibáñez El Alto, you can compare travel dates, room category and cancellation policies side by side on the respective listing page; these fields provide a concise basis for comparing offers with your own travel plans.

Annual Cycle

The Los Santitos festival takes place on 9 and 10 June. It honours Roman patron saints from the 2nd century and has always been associated with the traditional Capeas. San Juan Bautista is celebrated in Santibáñez el Alto on 24 June with religious ceremonies and tambourine music.

The Romería de la Virgen del Carmen takes place in Santibáñez el Alto on 15 August with an outdoor gathering in the Dehesa Los Pajares. The Matanza típica is associated with the first Saturday in March.

For the overarching travel overview: Cáceres.