Discover Valdefuentes: History, Nature and Regional Cuisine

Barrio de Gurumeña is the oldest district of Valdefuentes and features narrow, winding streets, dead ends, covered streets and small squares characteristic of Hispano-Muslim settlements. The district is considered the original settlement core of Valdefuentes and preserves traces of Muslim settlement.

History

The Museo Etnográfico organises guided tours of Valdefuentes and the surrounding area and provides visitors with tourist information.

Culture

The baptismal chapel vault of the Iglesia de Ntra. Sra. de Bienvenida is considered Cistercian and stylistically marks the transition from Romanesque to Gothic. The church has a Neoclassical altarpiece and a large vaulted window through which the throne of the Virgen de Bienvenida can be seen.

The Convento de San Agustín, or Agustinos Recoletos, is a Baroque building complex from the early 18th century with a single-nave church on a Latin-cross plan, an attached cloister and monastic rooms arranged around the cloister. The main façade of the church is made of granite blocks.

The former palace of the Marqueses de Valdefuentes is a 16th-century historic building located on the Plaza de España. The Rollo, a fluted column from the 16th century, also stands on the Plaza de España.

West of Valdefuentes, near Majales, there is a bridge of Roman origin with five arches. Its inscription in Roman characters is difficult to read due to wear.

Nature

The Ruta de las Ermitas is a 10-kilometre route through Valdefuentes that passes two hermitages and various rural paths. The Ruta Paraje de Casillas leads to the Casillas natural area and runs past grain mills, the old Capellán bridge and various rural paths.

The area around the Charca de Casillas features broom scrubland, holm oaks and numerous olive and fig trees. Its wildlife includes, among others, the short-toed snake eagle, fox, European otter, garden dormouse, European hare and ocellated lizard.

Encina La Solana was designated an Árbol Singular de Extremadura in 2005 and was estimated to be 700 years old. In 2023, it was classified as a “dead tree” due to the weather and its age.

The Santa María River and the Charca de Casillas once powered up to six millstones.

Regional Cuisine

The Museo Etnográfico de Valdefuentes is located on the ground floor of the former monastery of the Augustinian Recollects. It displays local handicrafts and agricultural equipment, offering insights into the town’s traditional way of life.

Numerous agri-food businesses in Valdefuentes produce cheese, Creme de Valdefuentes, cured meats, wine, sweets, chocolate, bread and oil. Local specialities include wine as well as raw-milk cheese made with cardoon rennet. The traditional cuisine of Valdefuentes also includes products made from Iberian pork, cheese and creams, as well as wine.

When considering a holiday apartment in Valdefuentes, you can compare travel dates, room category and cancellation policies on the respective offer pages; you can match the information against your priorities regarding trails, local history, nature and regional cuisine.

Festivals

The Feria Agroalimentaria takes place in the first half of March and showcases cheese and Creme from Valdefuentes, cured meats, wines, sweets, bread and chocolate. It includes workshops, exhibitions, tastings, hiking routes, concerts and guided tours.

Los Tableros is a centuries-old festival celebrated on the first Saturday in October in honour of the Virgen del Rosario. During the festival, four Madrinas and four Tableras in regional dress carry elongated boards on their heads, decorated with cloths, embroidery and bobbin lace; bread and sweets are placed on them.

The Romería de la Magdalena takes place on the Monday after Easter Sunday at the Ermita de la Magdalena.

On the Wednesday of Holy Week, a song passed down for a long time is performed in Valdefuentes; afterwards, the Canto del Ángel takes place in the church.

More Destinations

More destinations: El Torno, Jaraíz De La Vera, Logrosán, Alagón Del Río, Cuacos De Yuste, Fresnedoso De Ibor, Talaván, Aldeanueva Dela Vera.

To the overarching travel overview: Cáceres.