Puerto de Béjar: Vía de la Plata and Mountain Landscape

Culture

On the border between Puerto de Béjar and Peñacaballera lies the Coto de Nuestra Señora del Carmen, a romantic garden in the style of the late 19th century. It is designated as a BIC in the Historic Garden category.

In Puerto de Béjar, the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción dates back to the 16th century and is built in the Gothic style. The Ermita de Santa Bárbara dates from the 15th century and features a Baroque style.

For a stay in Puerto de Béjar, holiday apartments can be sorted on the respective offer pages by travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions. These details provide a practical basis for comparing different options during the same travel period. The choice of the day's itinerary remains separate from this: cultural sites, routes, landscapes and the historic Vía de la Plata route each represent distinct aspects of the town.

History

Under a bridge of the Autovía de la Plata (A-66) in the municipality of Puerto de Béjar, an excavated and restored section of the Vía de la Plata with a cobblestone surface has been preserved. It makes it possible to understand what the route looked like in this area.

Several Roman milestones have been preserved along the Calzada Romana de la Vía de la Plata in Puerto de Béjar. One of them marked the beginning of the road at the station settlement and corresponded to the milestone at mile CXXXII. The Calzada, known as the Camino Real, also retains a large part of its original paving.

Nature

Puerto de Béjar is surrounded by mountains, including Peña Negra. The area around the town is characterised by forests of oak, chestnut, maple, ash and rowan trees, as well as hazel bushes.

For planning the day, the landscape with its forests, the signposted hiking trails and the historic routes can be considered as separate areas of focus alongside one another.

Routes

The Camino Natural Vía de la Plata passes through Puerto de Béjar along the former railway corridor of the Ruta de la Plata railway line on the Seville–Gijón route. As a 21-kilometre-long Vía Verde, it can be used on foot or by bicycle.

Puerto de Béjar has signposted hiking trails, including the Peñanegra route. The Entresierras mountain-bike routes include a section in Valbuena for adapted bicycles between Cantagallo and Puerto de Béjar. Different route lengths and modes of transport provide objective points of comparison for planning your own itinerary.

Other places: Aldealengua, Santa Marta De Tormes, Olmedo De Camaces, Valdefuentes De Sangusin, Ciudad-Rodrigo, Lagunilla, Vecinos, Valdelamatanza.

On 3 May, a procession or pilgrimage takes place in Puerto de Béjar to the La Cruz site. The Way of St. James route does not pass directly through Puerto de Béjar, but runs to the left of the town; the 16th stage of the Way of St. James along the Vía de la Plata passes through the area of Puerto de Béjar and is 32 kilometres long in total, with its direct route following a Way of St. James route running to the left of the town.

For the broader travel overview: Salamanca.