Free walking tours in Almaraz and what to see

Must-sees

Almaraz is a village in Cáceres province, in the Campo Arañuelo area, on the banks of the Tagus. Although many people know it for its nuclear power station, the village has interesting heritage. Of the old lordship's castle, the 14th-century keep still stands. In the village are the parish church of San Andrés and a 17th-century stone pillory, and on the outskirts the hermitage of the Virgen de Rocamador, the focus of the local spring pilgrimage.

Over the Tagus survives the bridge built in the time of Charles I, blown up in 1809 during the Peninsular War and later repaired. The great natural draw is the Arrocampo reservoir, a special protection area for birds, with reed beds much prized by birdwatchers.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no regular free walking tours in Almaraz. What you will find are nature routes, especially birdwatching at the Arrocampo reservoir, which you can do on your own or with local guides. For guided heritage visits, the usual plan is to combine Almaraz with nearby Campo Arañuelo villages or a trip to Monfragüe National Park.

How long to spend

The village, the castle tower and the bridge can be seen in two or three hours. If you are interested in birds, spend a whole morning at Arrocampo, ideally first thing. With a full day you can add Belvís de Monroy and its castle, and with two days you have time to explore Monfragüe, less than an hour away by car.

Where to stay

Accommodation in Almaraz is limited: a few rural places to stay and apartments in the village and around it. For more options, Navalmoral de la Mata, a few kilometres away, has most of the area's hotels and good connections. The rural houses in nearby villages are a good alternative if you want peace and to be close to nature.