In Las Casas Del Conde, hiking trails, historic landmarks and the landscape of the Río Francia come together. If you are looking for accommodation, you can decide in advance what you want to focus on: should your stay be mainly about trails, cultural heritage or nature? Local highlights range from a 9.2-kilometre circular route to stone crosses and a single-arch bridge.

Landscape and hiking trails

Las Casas Del Conde is located within the Natura 2000 Site of Community Importance Las Batuecas-Sierra de Francia (ES4150107), on a south-facing mountain slope. This setting gives the area a distinctive microclimate. It also creates a strong connection to the landscape, reflected in the trails described here.

The Asentadero–Bosque de los Espejos is a 9.2-kilometre circular route through Las Casas Del Conde, San Martín del Castañar and Sequeros. Permanent works of art are installed along the route. The trail and the art form a distinct highlight: the route passes through three villages and combines the hike with works that can be seen along the way.

The Sendero Puentes Nuevas offers a perspective on both the landscape and its former uses. It passes through orchards, meadows, olive groves and vineyards, as well as oak, chestnut and pine forests and riverside woodlands. Old mills, bridges and the remains of former livestock shelters lie along the route. The trail is signposted; markers with QR codes provide information about key features along the route.

The wetlands along the Sendero Puentes Nuevas are also notable: they provide habitats for threatened amphibians, including salamanders, Iberian newts and midwife toads. The Río Francia forms a well-preserved river landscape with a high degree of naturalness and was declared a Fluvial Nature Reserve in 2017. Together, these details give the nature theme a concrete form, from woodland and riverine landscapes to wetland habitats.

Local history and stone landmarks

Las Casas Del Conde was founded during resettlements by the French that Count Raymond of Burgundy ordered towards the end of the 13th century. A later landmark in the village’s history is the Iglesia de Santa Catalina de Alejandría, built in 1767. The Viacrucis consists of 14 stone crosses and culminates at a Calvary known as a Calvario. The number and arrangement of the crosses make this religious route a distinctive cultural feature of the village.

Other points of interest include stone fountains and washbasins. The most remarkable washbasin is near Barrioviejo, beside the road. Outside the Ermita, a Crucero stands on an original cobbled surface made of stones from the Río Francia. These architectural details add evidence of public and religious life to the history of the church and the village.

The mills also tell the story of how the river was used: two grain mills stood along the Río Francia from the mid-18th century. Separately, visitors can see the stone single-arch bridge at Charco de La Ahigal. The access road to the village crosses it, as does the Sendero Puentes Nuevas. Here, a riverside structure serves two distinct purposes: as an access road and as part of a hiking trail.

Local produce and getting there

Olives and grapes from Las Casas Del Conde are made into oils and wines. Alongside hiking trails and architectural history, local agricultural produce is also part of the destination’s character.

For the drive from Salamanca to Las Casas Del Conde, take the CL-512 towards Vecinos, continue on the SA-210 to Tamames, then follow the SA-215 and SA-220. Check the route in a current navigation system before setting off. This makes it easy to plan your journey without committing to a specific route or an unverified travel time.

If you want to focus on the circular route and its artworks, you will find a clear hiking highlight there. If you are more interested in nature and former uses of the landscape, you can explore the scenery, wetlands and architectural traces along the Sendero Puentes Nuevas. Local history and stone landmarks offer another perspective on a stay in Las Casas Del Conde.

Discover more destinations: Vecinos, Las Uces, Villar De Ciervo, El Manzano, Nava de Francia, Cepeda, Castellanos De Villiquera, Cantagallo.

For the main travel overview: Salamanca.