Encinasola brings together a history shaped by its border location, river landscapes and festival traditions. The 15th-century Puente de Los Cabriles reflects the town’s former connection with the Las Contiendas border area. In and around Encinasola, visitors can also explore town fortifications, a round artillery tower and trails through the Parque Natural de Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche, offering something for a range of interests. Buildings, nature and festivals can therefore be considered as distinct focuses for a trip.

Border history in its buildings

The Puente de Los Cabriles once connected Encinasola with Las Contiendas. The Fuerte de San Felipe lies immediately east of the town centre. The round tower was built for artillery purposes between 1645 and 1650; it has an external diameter of 14 metres. The bridge and tower represent different aspects of the town’s history: a former link to the border area and a defensive fortification.

The Fuerte de San Juan is a town fortification that protected Encinasola from Portuguese incursions. Today, it houses a permanent exhibition about La Contienda, its distinctive buildings and working tools. The Castillo de Encinasola is also part of the area’s historic defences: together with the castles of Aroche and Fregenal de la Sierra in Badajoz, it formed the first line of defence. Those interested in border history will find a range of architectural forms and functions here, rather than just a single monument.

Trails and river landscapes

The Sendero del Puente de Los Cabriles starts on the southern edge of Encinasola, via Calle del Conde. For its first few metres, it runs roughly parallel to the HU-9103 in the direction of Cumbres de San Bartolomé. There are also numerous and varied routes around Encinasola for horse riding, cycling, mountain biking and walking. They pass through the landscape of the Parque Natural de Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche and offer several ways to explore the area.

Along the river near the Puente de Los Cabriles, a riverside woodland of ash trees, poplars, black poplars, willows and white eucalyptus grows. It provides shade and shelter for numerous birds, reptiles and small mammals. Another distinctive feature of the landscape lies in the valley of the Río Múrtigas: an old flour-mill weir forms the river’s largest pool, in a landscape of exceptional ecological value. The area thus offers a glimpse of both the historic use of water and the natural river environment.

Festivals and culinary traditions

The Festividad de San Andrés brings together cultural, sporting, religious and gastronomic events over an entire weekend. The fairground pavilion in Encinasola’s Plaza Mayor also hosts a craft fair. During the festival, the approximately 16-kilometre Ruta del Contrabandista connects the Portuguese town of Barrancos with Encinasola. On returning from the route, hikers and residents can try traditional Migas de San Andrés in the Plaza Mayor. The route, festival programme and dish each offer a different focus for the occasion.

The Romería de la Virgen de Flores begins on the Friday after Easter Sunday and lasts until the following Monday, Lunes de Albillo. At the end of the romería, the image is taken to its pilgrimage chapel at around 10 a.m. The chapel is 9 kilometres from the town. Tambourines, floats, carts and horses accompany the procession, which stops at the Piedra de los Valientes. The romería therefore offers a different schedule and festive atmosphere from the San Andrés weekend.

Planning your stay

If you’re looking for a hotel in Encinasola, the reason for your trip can help you choose when to visit: the romería follows the Easter calendar, while the Festividad de San Andrés combines a weekend programme with a route and culinary traditions. Check the specific event dates if you’d like to plan your stay around one of the festivals. If you’re more interested in history or landscapes, you can instead choose from different points of interest, including the fortifications, Puente de Los Cabriles, the riverside woodland and the valley of the Río Múrtigas.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Fuenteheridos, Chucena, Palos De La Frontera, Santa Bárbara De Casa, Minas De Riotinto, Santa Ana La Real, Villablanca, Cumbres de San Bartolomé.

For the main travel overview: Huelva.