Alagón Del Río brings together the history of a colonization village and the transformation of an irrigated agricultural landscape. The origins of the settlement, the Cristo de la Salud, which came from Granadilla, and an interpretation centre offer different ways to explore the region’s history. Visitors who put culture and rural themes at the heart of their stay can also connect the founding of the village with the development of the Valle del Alagón.
Location and agricultural character
Alagón Del Río lies in the Valle del Alagón in northern Extremadura, between Plasencia and Coria, two cities of historical and cultural significance. Most of the municipal area is used for agriculture. Irrigated fields are used mainly to grow fruit trees, maize, tobacco and various vegetables; there are also pastures for the region’s significant cattle farming. Crops and livestock farming thus shape the municipality’s rural character. Those interested in regional agriculture will find a tangible connection here, one that is also reflected in the village’s history.
How Alagón Del Río came into being
Alagón Del Río was established as a colonization village to accommodate the residents of Granadilla and Martinebrón (Sotoserrano). Their villages would have been flooded by the construction of the Gabriel y Galán Reservoir. A dehesa was designated for the new village and its agricultural plots; clearing and levelling work began there in 1957. In April 1958, the first group of colonists arrived from Granadilla. It consisted of 16 families. The village’s history therefore encompasses both the preparation of the settlement site and the arrival of its first residents. These two steps were part of the village’s creation, but mark different stages.
Cristo de la Salud and Iglesia del Espíritu Santo
The Iglesia del Espíritu Santo was consecrated on 10 November 1958. It houses the Cristo de la Salud, a crucifix dating from the mid-16th century. The image came from Granadilla and arrived in Alagón Del Río after a brief stay in Cáceres. It is attributed to, or influenced by, the Castilian school. The consecration of the church and the much older crucifix point to different periods in the area’s religious heritage.
The Cristo de la Salud was chosen as patron saint in Alagón Del Río by a show of hands. The first celebrations in his honour were organized in late summer and early autumn, coinciding with the end of the tomato, maize and pepper harvests. The origins of this festival tradition thus connect religious devotion with the agricultural calendar.
Irrigation history and a possible cycling route
The Centro de Interpretación de la Colonización del Valle del Alagón documents the far-reaching transformation of the Valle del Alagón through the introduction of irrigated agriculture in the mid-20th century. The centre can be visited in Alagón Del Río; check the visiting arrangements before your trip. It complements the village’s history with a look at the transformation of the entire valley.
For a cycling trip, a description published in 2019 lists the route “Alagón del Río – ruta de los frutales”: a 10.9-kilometre mountain biking loop near Alagón Del Río. Check the current surface and route conditions before setting out. This makes the cycling trip a separate point to consider in your planning, alongside the historical themes and a visit to the interpretation centre.
Discover more destinations: Cilleros, Logrosán, Miajadas, Arroyomolinos De La Vera, Alcántara, Valdelacasa de Tajo, Trujillo, Cañamero
For the main travel overview: Cáceres.
