San Bartolomé de Corneja – Trails, Nature and History

Just before San Bartolomé de Corneja, the route follows the drovers’ road La Calzada, which is also known as Camino de Choriceros. Beside La Calzada lies the Charco de los Tejeros wetland, known for its abundance of birdlife. Its name and origins are connected with the extraction of clay for making roof tiles and adobe bricks. Thus, this section brings together a historic road name, a wetland and the memory of the traditional extraction of materials for crafts.

Nature and Trails

A section of this route runs parallel to the banks of the Corneja for approximately two kilometres and is lined with large trees. The riverside landscape of the Corneja is of high ecological value and features a diverse range of plant, animal and fungal life. The names black poplar, ash and elm are associated with areas farther from the river course; alder and Bardaguera are considered characteristic of the riverbank. The trail can therefore be viewed through its course along the water, while the tree species more precisely identify the different areas along the river course.

The El Valle del Corneja route reaches San Bartolomé de Corneja at kilometre 9.3.

Landscape

The Risco de la Umbrela peak is located in the vicinity of San Bartolomé de Corneja; the El Berrueco mountain is also in the surroundings of San Bartolomé de Corneja. In the wider regional area are the Peña del Cuervo peak, the Cabeza Pelada peak and the Plataforma de Gredos park.

Other Places

For your regional planning, you can also include Candeleda, Pedro Bernardo, Navalonguilla, Bernuy-Salinero, Fuente El Saúz, Hoyorredondo, Cuevas Del Valle and Mijares.

History and Church

Towards the end of the 13th century, San Bartolomé de Corneja came under the rule of the bishop of the Diocese of Ávila. San Bartolomé de Corneja became a town. This historical development forms the political background to the history of the place.

The main altarpiece of the Church of San Bartolomé Apóstol contains a carved figure of the church’s patron saint. Together with the feast days of San Juan and San Bartolomé, this offers a cultural perspective on church art and traditional local information.

In 2024, the feast days of San Juan and San Bartolomé in San Bartolomé de Corneja were observed on 24 June and 24 August, respectively.

For a holiday apartment in San Bartolomé de Corneja, travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions can be compared with your own plans. The preferred focus can differ between trails along the Corneja, named landscape features, and church art and local history. The balance of the days can also be planned accordingly: the Corneja, the wetland and the named peaks represent nature and landscape topics, while the church, carved figure and feast days mark the cultural and historical aspects of the place. In this way, travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions can be linked to the desired focus without mixing the different themes of the place. The decision therefore remains guided by your own travel plans and by your preferred combination of nature and history.

For the broader travel overview: Avila.