Cáceres province destinations: Villages in Valle del Ambroz

Cáceres province is a fantastic road trip destination for rural tourism lovers. With the vast majority of cácereños living in small towns and villages, there’s plenty of little places for travellers to choose from. Valle del Ambroz, in northern Cáceres province, is a great example.

This article, aimed at helping you research villages worth including in your trip, showcases all villages in the Valle del Ambroz area, arranged in a descending population order. Each sub-section includes a brief description of each village’s location and highlights the main places of interest and reasons for visiting.

Villages in Valle del Ambroz

Casas del Monte 

Casas del Monte is the southernmost village in the valley, located some twenty minutes by car from Plasencia. Surrounded by chestnut tree forests, it’s a great place for nature walks and wild swimming, with several pools along Garganta Ancha. Its natural swimming pool was closed when I last visited at the end of May, but the on-site restaurant was open and nearly fully-booked.

Visit Casas del Monte for rural charm, nature walks, and wild swimming.

Baños de Montemayor

Located in the northern part of Valle del Ambroz and known as a spa village featuring Roman baths, Baños de Montemayor is a must for people driving the Autovía Ruta de la Plata. It has some charming squares, numerous examples of traditional architecture, and an old railway path (Vía Verde) for walking or cycling. Along the main road you’ll find shops selling traditional chestnut wooden baskets, gourmet products and souvenirs.

Visit Baños de Montemayor for a spa experience, traditional architecture, walking, and views.

Don’t miss the walk along the Vía Verde from the old railway station to the tunnel (northbound).

Aldeanueva del Camino

Aldeanueva del Camino is located a ten-minute drive away from Hervás, along the Vía de la Plata – the longest Camino route to Santiago de Compostela. Known as a paprika-producing village and home to three factories, Aldeanueva has two notable churches, and several old stone bridges and many examples of traditional houses with balconies along Calle Severiano Masides.

Aldeanueva del Camino is a good base for exploring villages on both sides of the A-66 road.

Don’t miss the old bridge on Calle Severiano Masides, and the little square off Calle Cañada.

Small villages in Valle del Ambroz

Gargantilla​

Situated in the Traslasierra foothills, surrounded by terraces of cherry and plum trees, Gargantilla is a small agricultural village with no monuments of note but tons of rural charm. Walk around its steep streets with eyes wide open to spot quirky architectural details, and look out for some excellent murals. During the summer months, head to the natural swimming pool for a refreshing dip on Garganta Buitrera.

Visit Gargantilla for traditional architecture, street art, and wild swimming.

Don’t miss the local piscina natural,

La Garganta

At 1124 metres over sea level, La Garganta is the highest village in Valle del Ambroz, situated just over ten minutes away from Baños de Montemayor. Quaintly picturesque, La Garganta features a church, a chapel and several stone fountains. But its greatest appeal lies its mountainous location, with three must-see viewpoints a short drive away on the scenic CC-225 road, as well as a former ice house.

Visit La Garganta for scenic location, and mountain views.

Don’t’ miss the three viewpoints: (1) the one next to the ice house (Pozo de las Nieves), (2) the one by the Corral de los Lobos, and (3) the new experiential viewpoint in Cordel del Berrocal.​

Abadía

Located in the plains by the river Ambroz, Abadía is, but for a poorly-maintained palace which only opens on Monday morning, an unassuming little village. The main reason to stop by in Abadía would be, in my opinion, to swim in the local, rather big piscina natural.

Visit Abadía for wild swimming.

Segura de Toro

Segura de Toro is thought to be the oldest village in the area, based on the Vettones remains found, including the granite bull (toro) sculpture standing in the main square. There are remains of a Templar castle and some lovely architecture, with many old houses displaying a vast array of plants and flower pots. It’s known for being home to a series of centenary chestnut trees and its location makes it a good place for nature walking. It’s also a good place for wild swimming, with a two-tier natural swimming pool on Garganta Sierra Cabrera.

Visit Segura de Toro for traditional architecture, nature walking, and wild swimming.

Don’t’ miss the mural outside the multipurpose centre on CC-28 road, and the two-level natural swimming pool.​

Map of villages in Valle del Ambroz

Find all the places mentioned in this article on the map below.