This second stage of EuroVelo 1 in Extremadura runs from Galisteo along the Vía de la Plata towards Cáceres almost parallel to the old N-630 road. We leave Galisteo through an open landscape of pastures dedicated to extensive cattle raising. We leave behind the small town of Grimaldo and we gradually ascend towards the Puerto de los Castaños, but not before going off the route a little to Pedroso de Acim in order to visit Santa María del Palancar, a monastery founded by San Pedro de Alcántara and which claims to be the smallest in the world; it marks the division between the Sierra de Cañaveral and the valley plain. After having crowned the pass we continue pedalling towards the municipality of Cañaveral. We continue on a track through a pinewood towards the Alcántara II Reservoir, where we can see theAlconetar Roman bridge, one of the oldest in the world with segmental arches.
Our passage over the River Tajo gives us impressive views and we come to Casar de Cáceres, where a stop to recharge our batteries is a must. This town is famous for its Torta del Casar, a delicious creamy cheese with a Protected Denomination of Origin which gives us the strength to carry on. Don’t miss its cheese museum, and if you feel like it visit the Church of La Asunción or take a look at the Bus Station, a building of striking architecture which has become the symbol of this municipality.
We are some 10 kilometres from Cáceres, one of the most beautiful cities in the world; it has been a World Heritage Site since 1986. If we have the chance, a night stroll will give us an unforgettable experience of its historical medieval ensemble with its buildings and plazas which evoke both history and legend and have provided film sets on numerous occasions. This city is full of life and culture and also looks to modernity with the Helga Alvear Collection, one of the most important private ensembles in Europe. Moreover, if you come in May you can also attend the annual edition of the Womad Festival. And if you still have the time and the energy to continue pedalling, only 14 km away you can discover one of the most impressive natural landscapes to be found. Enjoy a well-earned rest while you contemplate the Natural Monument of Los Barruecos, dominated by large granite boulders, which has been the setting for the successful series Game of Thrones. It also features works by the artist Wolf Vostell, a pioneer of the Fluxus artistic movement. You can visit his museum, the Museo Vostell Malpartida.
Comments: Section 21