On the mountainside in the Tiétar Valley and on the eastern side of the Gredos massif, Mijares combines mountain scenery with traces of history, swimming spots and local festivals. When planning a stay, it is worth choosing your focus: hiking or mountain-biking trails, the history of the village, swimming spots along the Las Torres gorge or one of the recurring festivals. This gives you a concrete starting point for exploring the different sides of the village.
Mountain setting and trails
The peaks of La Centenera and El Cabezo, along with Puerto de Mijares at an altitude of 1,570 metres, flank the village. Mijares has hiking and mountain-biking trails that offer panoramic views. One specific hiking section is the sixth stage of the GR 180, from Pedro Bernardo to Mijares: it is 12.2 kilometres long and takes about 3 hours and 20 minutes. If you include the GR 180 in your plans, this section’s specific length and approximate duration give you a useful guide. The hiking and mountain-biking trails offer further ways to experience the mountain scenery actively, in addition to this stage.
Historical traces in the village
Construction of the church in Mijares began around 1602. A sundial installed in 1770 can be seen on its walls. The main altarpiece from the former settlement of Las Torres is also part of the village’s history: it was transferred to Mijares in 1773. The three dates mark different historical events—the start of construction, the sundial and the transfer of the altarpiece—and offer a chronological perspective on Mijares’s history.
Another element of the area’s rural heritage lies at the exit from the village towards Casavieja: a well-preserved threshing floor. It complements the traces of the church with a different piece of local history. Alongside the dates associated with the church, this gives you a specific place and its well-preserved condition as starting points for exploring the village’s history.
Swimming spots along the Las Torres gorge
Mijares has a natural swimming pool along the Las Torres gorge. Charco Lucero is also a bathing spot on this gorge. The bathing areas there are unsupervised. If you plan to visit a swimming spot, you should take this lack of supervision into account. This lets you weigh an important practical consideration when choosing where to swim, rather than selecting a spot by name alone.
Festivals and a local speciality
The recurring traditional Quintos festival takes place on the second and third weekends of March. A bonfire is lit in the Plaza for the occasion. Mijares’s main festival, in honour of its patron saint San Bartolomé, takes place on 24 August. The two dates offer guidance for different times to travel: Quintos is in March, while San Bartolomé is in August. If you are planning your trip around a festival, check the specific dates and schedule for the year you are travelling.
Local cuisine also offers a specific point of reference: patatas al calderillo is considered a typical speciality of Mijares. If regional dishes are among the factors you consider when choosing a destination, you can include a local culinary tradition among your interests, alongside mountain trails, history and festivals.
Discover more destinations: Manjabálago, Narros De Saldueña, Poyales Del Hoyo, El Barco De Ávila, Cardeñosa, Pozanco, Horcajo de las Torres, Fuente El Saúz
For the broader travel overview: Avila.
