San Martín de Trevejo brings together linguistic history and historic architecture, with routes through forests and protected natural areas. This offers different ways to choose what to explore: the town center, A Fala, and landscape routes, whose courses and details vary.
A Fala and the historic town center
San Martín de Trevejo is one of three towns in the Xálima Valley where A Fala is spoken. The other two are Eljas and Valverde del Fresno. In 2001, the Junta de Extremadura declared A Fala a Bien de Interés Cultural as intangible cultural heritage. Those interested in regional languages will find a connection here that also extends to the valley’s other two towns.
The Conjunto de San Martín de Trevejo is recognized as a Bien de Interés Cultural in the Conjunto Histórico category. Its well-preserved architecture was decisive in its designation. Traditional houses have at least two stories and usually a stone ground floor or cellar where livestock were kept. The upper stories rest on a timber-and-earth framework. Stone benches and manor houses bearing coats of arms are also common features of the townscape.
Arcades line the Plaza Mayor, with a fountain or pilón in the middle. The bell tower on the plaza bears an imperial coat of arms. At the center of town stands the three-nave parish church of San Martín de Tours. It houses three 16th-century paintings by the painter Luis de Morales, known as El Divino, who was from Badajoz.
The Convento de San Miguel is another of the town’s historical landmarks. According to tradition, the monastery was founded on the recommendation of Saint Francis of Assisi; in 1454, Pope Nicholas II approved the construction of the convent that stands today. The decorated stelae of San Martín de Trevejo are among the earliest evidence of human presence in the Sierra de Gata.
A former 12th-century oil mill, together with an adjoining wine press, once housed the Museo del Aceite y del Vino. The museum is currently closed; check whether it is open before planning a visit.
Routes through towns and landscapes
The signposted A-Fala Route passes through San Martín de Trevejo, Eljas, and Valverde del Fresno. Its landscape features extensive oak forests, centuries-old chestnut trees, and a beautiful paved path. It is advisable to check local trail conditions before setting out.
The historic Camino de Trevejo a Jálama is a fully public route measuring 16.32 kilometers. It connects the hamlet of Trevejo with Villamiel and San Martín de Trevejo, and continues to the summit of Jálama. Almost the entire route passes through Natura 2000 sites, including the ZEPA Sierra de Gata y Valle de las Pilas and the ZEC Sierra de Gata.
The SL-CC 208 hiking trail follows the Río de la Vega through a riverside forest with protected understory plants. It continues through oak forest and past traditional hay meadows and small gardens maintained by local residents. The route descriptions offer different details for planning: the Camino’s length, connections, and summit destination are specified; the SL-CC 208 landscape is characterized by its river, forest, meadows, and gardens. The A-Fala Route connects the three towns mentioned.
At Castaños del Cobijo, also known as de los Ojestos, the larger of two distinctive chestnut trees is particularly well documented: its trunk circumference is 6.90 meters at a height of 1.30 meters, and its crown is more than 17 meters wide. Castaños del Cobijo, or de los Ojestos, is listed as an Árbol Singular in Extremadura’s network of protected natural areas.
Local dishes
Dishes served in town include ensalada de naranja, almodu de pibitas y berzas, esparragau, and bizcochos mañegos. Together with A Fala, the architectural forms of the historic ensemble, and the routes described, they offer a variety of themes to explore during a stay, rather than focusing on a single route or attraction.
Discover more destinations: Valencia De Alcantara, Malpartida De Plasencia, Robledillo De Gata, Cabañas Del Castillo, Casas Del Monte, La Aldea Del Obispo, Santibáñez El Bajo, Peraleda de la Mata.
For the broader travel overview: Cáceres.
