Ruanes: Church Art, Festival Traditions and Historical Traces

Ruanes combines historic buildings and wayside crosses with lively festival traditions, regional cuisine and landscapes in the surrounding area of the ZEPA Llanos de Trujillo. The history of the town is reflected in different ways: from a church dating back several centuries to festivals whose customs are linked to a vow.

Church Art and Historical Traces

The Iglesia Parroquial de La Asunción is a Gothic and Neo-Gothic church dating from the 15th and 20th centuries. Another artistic treasure is the polychrome wooden sculpture of the Virgen de la Breva, a work from the first half of the 17th century. Archaeological remains from Roman times can also be found in Ruanes. The town is also associated with the possible Roman settlement of Reuveanas; the possibility that the town's name derives from this settlement is also considered.

Ruanes was granted the status of a villa in 1628 under Felipe IV. Two stone wayside markers can be distinguished by their location and date: a Crucero from the late 18th century stands on Calle Pizarro. On the road to La Cumbre there is a wayside cross on two square stone steps, probably dating from the 17th century.

Large traditional houses with broad façades and characteristic entrance portals shape the townscape; the streets are quiet and well maintained. The town centre also retains manor houses that preserve traces of the wealth of their former owners. The cemetery is considered the most significant evidence of this former prosperity.

Festival Days and Local Cuisine

The feast of San Gregorio Ostiense is celebrated in Ruanes on 9 May. On this occasion, the community fulfils a vow that was confirmed at an open community meeting on 4 May 1749. The celebration includes a pilgrimage: an image of the saint is carried in a procession from the church to the Cruz de San Gregorio. The exact proceedings may vary from year to year; check the programme for the year in question before your trip.

Los Ofertorios take place on the second weekend of August and include a verbena, children's games and a traditional auction known as the Puja. Items on offer include handicrafts, cured meats, eggs, pulses, liqueurs and the traditional sweet rosca de piñonate. The selection of auction items may vary from one edition to the next, so check the programme for the year in question.

Traditional Ruanes cuisine includes air-dried ham from home slaughtering, roast lamb and chanfainas. A restaurant serving traditional dishes is located at the crossroads of the roads to Salvatierra, La Cumbre, Santa Ana and Botija. As you should confirm that it is operating before your trip, it is best to check whether the restaurant will be open during your visit.

Landscapes in the Regional Surroundings

The ZEPA Llanos de Trujillo is bordered, among other features, by the EX-381 between Trujillo and Ruanes and by the municipal connecting road between Ruanes and Ibahernando. The ZEPA includes pseudo-steppe with open areas characterised by grasses, annual herbs and pastureland. There are also areas with broom, rush meadows and oak formations. The protected area's open habitats provide refuge for birds adapted to such environments.

A route to San Gregorio runs at an altitude of about 630 m through a landscape where nature unfolds with little human intervention. There is also a pond beside the cemetery where terrapins can be observed, although sightings are not guaranteed. These two natural features are quite different: the route takes you through a landscape, while the pond is described as a specific place for wildlife observation.

Getting There and Planning Your Trip

Ruanes can be reached from Trujillo via the EX-381 road; the distance is given as 18 kilometres. Check current road conditions before setting off. If you would like to time your stay to coincide with one of the festivals, also check the annual dates and programme details in advance.

Discover more destinations: Jaraicejo, Grimaldo, Alagón Del Río, Zarza De Granadilla, Alía, Madrigal De La Vera, Herguijuela, Jarilla.

For the wider travel overview: Cáceres.