Viewpoints in Valle del Jerte

Famous for its terraces of cherry trees and its cherry blossom festival, Valle del Jerte is one of Extremadura’s favourite travel destinations. With scenic drives and numerous viewpoints along the way, it’s particularly well-suited for road trips.

In this article, aimed at travellers road tripping northern Extremadura, I share eleven viewpoints in Valle del Jerte. Each sub-section includes a brief description of each viewpoint and its view, as well as practical info about location, how to get there and parking.

Mirador de Los Lagares

Also known as Mirador El Coto, this viewpoint is situated to the north of the village of Barrado, by a track leading down to a natural pool on Garganta del Obispo. It has some great views over the surrounding hills, where you can see terraces of cherry trees. According to the signs, this former dense oak woodland was stripped of their trees by a group of soldiers who remained in Barrado for several years after the Spanish Civil War and burnt trees in the main square to keep themselves warm.

Location, getting there and parking: Mirador de los Lagares is on a paved track off the country road (camino rural) from Barrado to Piornal. Your reference point for getting there would be the EX-213 road. If you’re driving from Cabrero, you’ll see the brown sign for mirador de los Lagares just before arriving in Barrado. There’s on-site parking space.

Mirador de las Ferneas

Located by the main road (EX-213) running through Barrado at over 800 metres above sea level, this balcony offers a sweeping view to the south allowing you to spot the traditional holm oak forests in the Monfragüe Natural Park area. Colourful tiled letters making up the name of the village double as little seats in what is a picture-perfect spot. Easily reachable on foot by the centre of the village.

Location and parking: find Mirador de las Ferneas on Avenida de Extremadura (EX-213 road). Leave your car at the nearby parking space (past the viewpoint, if you’re driving southbound).

Mirador de la Cabra

The first settlers of Cabrero were goat herders, hence the name of the village; this viewpoint is dedicated to goats, as evidenced by the goat statue standing tall in the centre. The rather large viewpoint has a decent-sized green area, a children’s park, picnic tables and fantastic views of the valley, with a particularly good view of Casas del Castañar to your left. You can also spot El Torno to your right in the distance.

Location and parking: Mirador de la Cabra is situated just off the CC-231 road on the northern end of Cabrero, opposite the town hall. There’s free on-site parking.

Mirador de la Memoria

The most famous viewpoint in Valle del Jerte is south of El Torno, where a series of human sculptures make up a moving a memorial to those forgotten in the Spanish Civil War and the subsequent fascist regime. The 180-degree views from here are far-reaching: you can see as far north as Tornavacas and as far south as Plasencia and its nearby reservoir. You can also clearly spot several villages on the opposite side of the valley; from left to right: Valdastillas, Piornal, Cabrero and Casas del Castañar.

Location and parking: Mirador de la Memoria is located just off the CC-232 road, a few kilometres south of El Torno. Free, on-site parking.

Mirador del Cerezo en Flor

This viewpoint is located on what is one of my favourite scenic drives in Extremadura – the single-track CC-224 from Hervás to the N-110 road between Cabezuela del Valle and Jerte. Named after the cherry blossom Valle del Jerte is known for, it offers a lovely view to the south over terraces of cherry trees.

Location and parking: you’ll find Mirador del Cerezo en Flor some 8.6 kilometres from the roundabout on the N-110 road before getting off to the CC-224 road. Free, limited on-site parking.

Mirador de la Garganta de los Papúos

Ruta Puente de los Papúos is a linear walk outside Jerte, mostly amongst terraces of cherry trees and through leafy woods to a bridge over the namesake river (Garganta de los Papúos). From this informal viewpoint you’ll have a great view of the verdant surroundings and the village of Jerte in the background, set against the hills.

Location: you’ll find this informal viewpoint after walking about two thirds of the way.

Mirador Balcón del Valle

At 1,157 metres above sea level, Piornal is the highest town in Extremadura. Its main local viewpoint, known as ‘the balcony to the valley’ or ‘the viewpoint almost touching the sky’, has, perhaps unsurprisingly, one of the best views in the region. It’s located in a sort of park with several huts, a reminder of its origins as a shepherds’ settlement. There’s also a picnic area in a fairly-shaded are with trees.

Location and parking: on the northern edge of the village, off the CC-233 road from Piornal to Valdastillas. There’s plenty of free, on-site parking just outside the viewpoint area.

Paseo el Mirador

Rebollar does not need an official viewpoint – the village is a viewpoint in itself. A large stretch of the main road running through it, planted with ornamental orange trees, serves as a balcony to the other side of the valley, where you can spot Piornal at the top, as well as Cabrero and Casas del Castañar. Continue walking to the east and, on Avenida de Plasencia (the same road), you’ll have another fantastic view right before the mural.

Location and parking: Paseo el Mirador and Avenida de Plasencia. If you’re lucky, you might find a parking spot just outside the Cultural Centre on Paseo el Mirador.

Mirador del Puerto de Tornavacas

From all the viewpoints in Valle del Jerte I’ve seen so far, this is my personal favourite. It’s situated at the very top of the valley, north of Tornavacas, at a mountain pass (puerto) at 1,274 metres above sea level, marking the border between Extremadura and Castile-Leon. The views of the whole valley are breathtaking, particularly in spring.

Location and parking: off the N-110 road connecting Plasencia with Soria. There’s a large parking area for all types of vehicles, as well as a shaded picnic area.

Mirador de la Garganta Marta

This viewpoint is a see-through metal walkway over a waterfall on Garganta Marta, just several minutes by car from Valdastillas. From a parking area on the main road (see below), you’ll follow a path running alongside the river through an alder tree-covered area with a former olive press and a picnic area. Make sure you wear appropriate footwear, since flip-flops and sandals can get caught on the metal bars of the walkway.

Location, parking and getting there: locate Calle Roble in Valdastillas and head south for two minutes. Leave the car in the open are by the curve just before the bridge and follow the sign ‘cascada y lagar Marta’ on foot to the left. You’ll find the walkway at the end of the track.

Mirador del Puerto de Honduras

Technically speaking, this viewpoint is in between valleys; more specifically, halfway between Valle del Jerte and Valle del Ambroz. Located at a mountain pass at 1,433 metres above sea level, this is an unmissable place to stop along the above-mentioned CC-224 road from Hervás to the N-110 road between Cabezuela del Valle and Jerte.

Map of viewpoints in Valle del Jerte

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