Valdefuentes: History, Architecture and Traditions

Valdefuentes is a destination for a trip focused on cultural heritage and regional traditions. Historic townscapes, sacred architecture and local festivals offer different starting points for planning. The town’s history centres on both the Barrio de Gurumeña and several buildings, as well as its museum, regional products and landscape. You can plan your hotel stay around whether you would like to focus on architecture and history, attend a festival or explore trails in a rural setting.

Streets, Church and Convent

The Barrio de Gurumeña is the oldest district of Valdefuentes. Narrow, winding streets, dead ends, covered streets and small squares shape its townscape. This layout is considered characteristic of Hispano-Muslim settlements. Gurumeña is also regarded as the original settlement of Valdefuentes; traces of Muslim settlement have been preserved.

The Iglesia de Ntra. Sra. de Bienvenida combines different architectural features. Its baptismal chapel vault is considered Cistercian in style and marks the transition from Romanesque to Gothic. The church also contains a Neoclassical altarpiece and a large vaulted window through which the throne of the Virgen de Bienvenida can be seen.

The Convento de San Agustín, also known as the Augustinian Recollects convent, is a Baroque complex dating from the early 18th century. It comprises a single-nave church with a Latin cross plan, an adjoining cloister and monastic rooms arranged around the cloister. The church’s main façade is built of granite ashlar. The Plaza de España is also home to the former palace of the Marqueses de Valdefuentes, a 16th-century historic monument, and the Rollo, a fluted column from the same period.

Museum, Local Products and Festivals

The Museo Etnográfico de Valdefuentes is located on the ground floor of the former Augustinian Recollect convent. It displays local crafts and agricultural tools that offer insight into traditional ways of life. The museum also organises guided tours of Valdefuentes and the surrounding area and provides tourist information. If you plan to take a tour, enquire in advance about the current arrangements.

Traditional cuisine includes Iberian pork products, cheese and creams, as well as wine. Local specialities include wine and raw-milk cheese made with cardoon rennet. Numerous agri-food businesses produce cheese, Crema de Valdefuentes, cured meats, wine, sweets, chocolate, bread and oil. Individual businesses and the availability of their products may change.

The Feria Agroalimentaria takes place in the first half of March. It showcases cheese and cream from Valdefuentes, cured meats, wines, sweets, bread and chocolate; the programme also includes workshops, exhibitions, tastings, walking routes, concerts and guided tours. Dates and activities may vary from year to year, so it is worth checking the programme for the relevant year when planning your trip.

Los Tableros is also a centuries-old festival, celebrated on the first Saturday in October in honour of the Virgen del Rosario. Four Madrinas and four Tableras, dressed in traditional regional costume, carry long boards on their heads. Decorated with cloths, embroidery and bobbin lace, the boards are laden with bread and sweets. The Romería de la Magdalena takes place at the Ermita de la Magdalena on the Monday after Easter Sunday. On Wednesday of Holy Week, a song passed down for generations is performed in Valdefuentes; this is followed by the Canto del Ángel in the church.

Routes and Landscape

The Ruta de las Ermitas is ten kilometres long and passes through Valdefuentes, by two hermitages and along various rural paths. The Ruta Paraje de Casillas leads to the Casillas natural area; along the way are grain mills and the old Capellán Bridge. The stated stops distinguish the two routes: one passes by the hermitages, while the other features the natural area and its historic structures. Check trail conditions before setting out.

The area around the Charca de Casillas has broom scrubland, holm oaks and numerous olive and fig trees. Wildlife includes, among other species, short-toed snake eagles, foxes, Eurasian otters, garden dormice, European hares and ocellated lizards. Which species you can spot may vary depending on the season.

Encina La Solana was designated an Árbol Singular de Extremadura (Singular Tree of Extremadura) in 2005; its age was estimated at 700 years. In 2023, it was classified as a “dead tree” due to weather conditions and age. As this classification dates from 2023, check its current condition before planning a visit specifically to see it.

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For the main travel overview: Cáceres.