Montemolín: Churches, Dehesa and Regional Cuisine

Montemolín brings together architectural history, landscape and regional cuisine. If, while planning your trip, you are weighing up church architecture, pilgrimage history, nature or culinary experiences, you will find several distinct points of interest here.

Church Architecture and Pilgrimage History

The Parroquia de la Purísima Concepción is a single-nave church in the Gothic-Renaissance style. Its elongated rectangular ground plan and walls of exposed masonry and stone are defining features of the building. The church has 14 altars with their associated altarpieces. Most date from the 17th and 18th centuries and are Baroque, Solomonic or mirror altarpieces. Thus, alongside the building’s basic form, the different styles of its altar furnishings are also a focus.

A hostel or hospital once stood on the site of the present-day Parroquia, providing accommodation for pilgrims on the southern Way of St James. This earlier use adds a connection to pilgrimage to the building’s history. The Ermita de San Blas presents a different architectural form: it is considered the only surviving example in the Santiaguista territories of a place of worship with two naves and a chancel set off the building’s axis. Its two-nave layout thus differs clearly from the Parroquia’s single-nave plan.

The Ermita de Nuestra Señora de la Granada also has a historic ecclesiastical role: in the late Middle Ages, it was Montemolín’s parish church and was dedicated to Santiago. The Puente Medieval de Gallicanta adds another detail to the architectural history. Stone blocks from a vanished structure were reused in the bridge.

Landscape and Experiences

Montemolín’s landscape is hilly and characterised by dehesa and low-growing scrub. The Río Viar crosses the municipality and has cut deeply into the underlying ancient rock. The vegetation and terrain thus contrast with another, geological feature: the river’s deep channel.

Xtremabuggy’s base for off-road experiences is located in Montemolín. The company offers buggy or 4×4 routes; booking in advance is advisable. The Jamón y buggies experience combines a buggy ride through the dehesa with information about nature and the rearing of Iberian pigs. The experience concludes with a tasting of the products. The stated season for this experience runs from October to May; check availability before your trip. Unlike the general off-road routes, Jamón y buggies explicitly includes nature education and a tasting.

Regional Cuisine and Traditions

Traditional Montemolín cuisine includes Guarrito, Gazpacho, Caldereta and Migas. Sweet treats include Gañotes and Perrunillas. The dishes offered by an individual establishment may vary depending on the season. The Festividad de la Virgen de la Granada includes a solemn Mass and a procession in honour of Montemolín’s patron saint at the hermitage of the same name. If you would like to plan your trip around this festival, check the dates and programme in advance, as programme details may change.

Getting There

Montemolín is about 7 km from the A-66, the Autovía de la Ruta de la Plata, and the N-630. Check road conditions before setting off. The distance gives you an indication for travelling by road without specifying a particular journey time.

Discover more destinations: Pallares, Don Alvaro, Quintana De La Serena, Zafra, Garbayuela, Talarrubias, Higuera De Llerena, Valverde De Leganés.

For the broader travel overview: Badajoz.