Navamorcuende offers different perspectives for planning a trip: buildings from several centuries, trails through forest landscapes and a prehistoric archaeological site. There is also the Living Nativity, held annually around Christmas. You can therefore plan your stay around architecture, nature or a specific festival date. For the Christmas event in particular, it is worth keeping the annual schedule in mind, as the exact performance dates vary.

Trails between forest, reservoir and archaeological site

The PR-TO 58 Ruta del Pantano starts south of Navamorcuende on Calle Cambija. It passes through dense oak and pine forests before reaching the Piélago Dam on the Guadyerbas Reservoir. The route includes interpretive signage. Check local trail conditions before setting out.

The Ruta del Boquique takes a different approach, connecting Navamorcuende with the surrounding nature and the Cueva del Boquique. This prehistoric archaeological site is associated with the well-known Boquique pottery: remains found there gave it its name. The two routes therefore emphasize different themes: forest and reservoir on the one hand, and nature and archaeology on the other. It is also advisable to check local trail conditions before setting out on the Ruta del Boquique.

The area around the Sierra de San Vicente near Navamorcuende offers hiking trails, natural viewpoints and Mediterranean forest landscapes. The Mirador de los Molinos offers views of the reservoir and the region’s natural surroundings. The Melojar de la Sierra de San Vicente includes a forest area in Navamorcuende with oaks, chestnuts, holm oaks, Pyrenean oaks, hawthorns and ash trees. The trees can be up to 600 years old and reach a diameter of up to two metres. Alongside the trails, the forest landscape and its tree species therefore offer their own themes to consider when planning a trip.

Buildings from several centuries

The Iglesia de Santa María de la Nava is a Renaissance church dating from the mid-16th century and is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural. Another 16th-century chapel is the Ermita de Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación, also known as the Ermita del Guadyerbas. It has a rectangular floor plan, is privately owned and can be seen from the adjacent path.

The Palacio de los Marqueses was built in 1697 in the Baroque style on the foundations of a medieval fortress. A later landmark is the Ermita del Santo Cristo de los Remedios: it was built in 1792 and is located on the road towards El Piélago. The different periods are also reflected in the Fuente de la plaza on Plaza Comandante Rodrigo. Its octagonal basin and parapet of large stone blocks are part of an 18th-century fountain; an inscription dating from the time of Carlos IV serves as evidence of its age.

There are also four watermills on the road from Navamorcuende towards El Real de San Vicente. They are in varying states of preservation. Together with the churches, chapels and the Palacio, they broaden the picture of the town’s built heritage, although they do not all share the same function or date of origin.

Living Nativity around Christmas

The Belén Viviente de Navamorcuende is held annually in three performances around Christmas. More than fifty traditional trades and activities are reenacted. Examples include flour and oil mills, washerwomen, looms, blacksmiths and basket weaving. A regional cultural description from December 2025 names 150 to 200 volunteer participants. The exact performance dates may vary from year to year, so check the dates for the relevant year before travelling.

There are several options when choosing a focus for your trip: the buildings offer insights into different periods, the trails highlight different aspects of forest, reservoir and archaeology, and the Belén Viviente takes place during performances around Christmas. If the festival is central to your trip, plan around its specific dates. If you go hiking, check local trail conditions before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Illescas, Noblejas, Nambroca, Robledo Del Buey, Castillo De Bayuela, Yuncler, Novés, Nuño Gómez.

For the overview of the wider region: Toledo.