The Río Jerte flows through Navaconcejo. The town’s history is also reflected in tangible traces: from former textile workshops and callejinas to a local story about a supposed whale. Natural swimming spots, a route about four kilometres long and two viewpoints offer further ideas for your stay.
River, bathing spots and route
The Río Jerte flows through Navaconcejo and offers numerous bathing spots where you can cool off and relax in summer. The natural swimming spots each have different features: El Cajón has a lawn and easy access. El Pilar has a sandy area and plenty of shade; its facilities also include a car park, a beach bar and a children’s playground. From there, you can reach the Garganta de Nogaleas.
El Cristo is a spacious bathing area with a dense stand of alders, a picnic area, a children’s playground and a nearby car park. The El Benidorm bathing area is at the entrance to Navaconcejo. It lies in the shade of alders, ash trees and poplars and has a large car park. You can therefore compare the sites based on their respective stated features, rather than assuming they all have the same facilities.
The Garganta de las Nogaleas route starts and ends in Navaconcejo. It is classified as easy and is about four kilometres long. If you plan to hike it, check the condition of the path beforehand: conditions along the route can change.
Two viewpoints, different locations
The Mirador de las Artezuelas is within the town, on Paseo Nuevo, and offers views of the Río Jerte and the town. It is accessed via the new bridge between Cerro Real and Paseo del Río Jerte streets. The Mirador de San Jorge, by contrast, is about 300 metres from Navaconcejo, on Cerro de San Jorge. The viewpoints thus differ in their relationship to the town: one is within the town, while the other is on the nearby Cerro de San Jorge.
Architectural history and local stories
The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción is dated differently according to two sources. The coat of arms in the sacristy indicates that it dates from the mid-16th century; the inscription on the tower points to the second half of the 17th century. Its main altarpiece is Baroque and dates from the mid-18th century. The Ermita del Cristo del Valle is an 18th-century chapel. It houses an altarpiece also dating from that century, depicting the crucified Jesus.
The Fábrica de Sayales (Casa de Cultura) is a Renaissance building associated with Navaconcejo’s former textile production. Its basement rooms once housed workshops for making bayeta and paño pardo, as well as dyeing rooms. The callejinas also tell of earlier uses: these tunnels connect the river with the rest of the town and were formerly used for washing and watering animals. On the Cañada Real, formerly Calle Real, stand a stone cross and houses with wooden balconies and elaborately worked stone façades.
The Mural de La Ballena draws on a local story: a supposed whale sighting in the Río Jerte turned out, according to the story, to be a saddlebag swept along by the current. The story gave rise to the nickname “ballenatos” for the residents. The Camino Real was the historic route for the exchange of goods between Navaconcejo and Piornal.
Festivals and traditions
The celebrations for the patron saint San Jorge include a Mass at the Ermita de San Jorge and a romería on 23 April. The celebrations may vary in their specific form. Los Calbotes is a local tradition in which people go outdoors, roast chestnuts and celebrate with friends and family.
Discover more destinations: Tejeda De Tiétar, El Batán, El Gordo, Montehermoso, Peraleda de la Mata, Santibáñez El Bajo, Marchagaz, Jaraicejo.
For the broader travel overview: Cáceres.
