Stage 29: El Puente del Arzobispo - Valdelacasa de Tajo
Description
First steps through the province of Cáceres
The Nature Trail leaves El Puente del Arzobispo in Toledo, traversing through endless fields dotted with olive, almond and holm oak trees to finally arrive at Valdelacasa de Tajo.
The route begins in the centre of El Puente del Arzobispo, on the left bank of the River Tagus, next to the namesake stone bridge built more than 600 years ago (please refer to the information provided in Stage 28). Leaving the bridge behind, the path runs along the river during the first 300 m, with panoramic views of the picturesque village.
The first part of the Nature Trail proceeds along a comfortable track with views of the extensive cereal fields and olive groves that are the basis of the local agrarian economy.
The route drifts away from the river and gradually narrows sandwiched between trees and rocky outcrops. This part of the Trail ends with a short climb up to the highest point in the route, from where one can see the lands covered by olive trees that stretch as far as the eye can see.
It begins a slow descent to cross over a small bridge on a river that runs dry in summer. Further on, the route passes next to cattle farms, a regular presence until the end of the Stage. There are several cattle grids scattered along the route to control cattle movement.
In certain areas, one can see the facilities and pipes that channel water to the crop fields. After crossing several sluice gates, the route merges with the road to Valdelacasa that links the start and endpoint of this Stage. The traveller has covered 10 kilometres at this point.
The route continues through vast plains planted where day labourers are busy in the fields, and sheep and goats graze. Sierra de Valdecasa can be seen in the distance, on the horizon, with Pico Cabras standing out at 1,010 m of altitude. This landscape enhances the route to Villar del Pedroso, a charming town with cobbled streets, located on the opposite side of the road leading to El Puente del Arzobispo.
After leaving Villar behind, the Trail continues amidst olive groves and farmland until it reaches an emblematic route: the Camino Real de Guadalupe. Although it initially heads southwest, 5 kilometres after leaving Villar, the route turns 90º, and continues northwest during the last 8 km. During the final stretch of the Stage, the Pizarroso Reservoir hugs the right side of the Trail, although it is not visible.
The route reaches Valdelacasa de Tajo, with the zoomorphic sculpture of El Verraco and the church of La Asunción and its notable bell tower looking out over the roofs of the other buildings.
Sites of interest
Profile
MIDE (Method for the Information of Excursions)
Harshness of natural environment- 1. The environment is not risk-free
- 2. There are more than one risk factors
- 3. There are various risk factors
- 4. There are quite a lot of risk factors
- 5. There are many risk factors
Guidance along the route- 1. Well defined trails and crossings
- 2. There is a clearly marked trail and signage
- 3. Requires the identification of geographic features and cardinal points
- 4. Requires off-path navigation
- 5. The trail is interrupted by obstacles that have to be gone around
Route difficulty- 1. Walking on a flat surface
- 2. Trails with different types of path
- 3. Walking on stepped paths or irregular terrain
- 4. The use of hands or jumping over the terrain is necessary
- 5. The use of hands is required to progress
Amount of effort needed- 1. Up to 1 hour of continuous walking
- 2. Between 1 and 3 hours of continuous walking
- 3. Between 3 and 6 hours of continuous walking
- 4. Between 6 and 10 hours of actual walking
- 5. More than 10 hours of continuous walking
Featured
Further information
Parish Church of La Asunción
A 15th and 16th century Gothic building with a vaulted polygonal chancel. A Renaissance portico with timber beam arches covers the south façade.
The Camino Real de Guadalupe
First used by the Romans, and later by the Arabs, it played a prominent role after the construction of the Monastery of Guadalupe in the thirteenth century. It was one of the pilgrimage routes that connected Castile with the Hieronymite Monastery.
This Route run from Villar del Pedroso to Guadalupe, leaving Carrascalejo to one side, and then up the south slope of Sierra de Altamira towards the mountain pass of Arrebatacapas. From here, it headed down the north slope towards Los Gallegos, to continue through the mountain pass of Venta del Puerto. It then continued towards Salto de la Cabra, crossing through the so-called "Gate of Camino Real", and from there, it headed down to the Venta Valley via the Caserones, where the roadside inn that gave its name to the valley stood. From here, it continued upstream, parallel to the River Gualija, towards Cabezuelas.
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