The best gravel rides around Lagartera

A bridge from another time, on a bend in the road, a marvel that you might think is a photo from northern Spain. It's worth taking a detour to go over it.

The Camino Real de Guadalupe by bike, especially the Oropesa – Alcañizo section: Approximate distance: 24–25 km (depending on the exact route). Terrain: rural tracks and roads, with some paved sections. Difficulty: Moderate, with no major mountain passes on this section. Surroundings: Toledo countryside, cereal fields, and pastures. Oropesa is notable for its castle and Renaissance palace (now a Parador).

The Count's Palace of Oropesa, located in the province of Toledo, is an architectural gem with a rich history and great heritage value. The Old Palace (or Doña Elvira Palace): in the Mudejar Gothic style, built in the 14th century. The New Palace: in the Renaissance style, built in the 15th century. It stands out for its original coffered ceiling, its balconies with the coat of arms of the Counts of Oropesa, and a large interior courtyard that was even used as a bullring. Together with the adjacent castle, it forms a complex declared a Historic-Artistic Monument in 1923. In 1931, it was incorporated into the National Parador Network, becoming the first Parador built on a historic building.

Beautiful area with steep slopes

Using the power of moving water to drive a mill wheel is an ancient invention that dates back to pre-Christian times. Thanks to such a construction, human or animal muscle power could be easily replaced by a watercourse - natural or artificially created - in order to grind grain into corn, for example. There are essentially two different ways of driving watermills: Either the water simply hits the blades of the water wheel from below to set it in motion; or the water is guided above the wheel and falls onto the blades; this type of construction is more efficient due to natural gravity.

It is one of the climbs that I enjoyed the most in the southern area of the Sierra de Gredos. We start from Candelada, a town that is worth visiting and where there are all kinds of services, including a bicycle shop and workshop, taking a very narrow road that takes us directly to the sanctuary. It is a climb in steps, with 3 hard areas and 2 rest sections, the first steeper than the second. When leaving Candeleda there is a small descent. When crossing a bridge, the climb begins with a hard ramp, and after 1 km, the hardest km of the climb arrives with an average of 9% and ramps above 10%. After overcoming it and leaving behind another kilometer that is gentler at 6%, there comes a rest, after which we tackle the second section of the climb, where we find the hardest ramp of the climb, with a maintained 13% area. After this point, a new break arrives, much shorter than the previous one. We thus approach the third section of the climb, the longest at approximately 4 km, with a hard ramp in the second km and the last two kilometers at 5%, to enjoy the landscape and views. The road is very narrow, with smooth but irregular asphalt, very typical of secondary roads in this area. Highly recommended!!

Without a doubt, this is one of the great discoveries of our trip to the Sierra de Gredos. Although it is not a renowned architectural monument, the Sanctuary is worth visiting for its location, its views, the interesting climb from Candeleda by bicycle and the pleasant walk that can be taken in its surroundings.

This small hermitage, built in the 16th and 17th centuries, is located in an environment of lush vegetation and beauty. Inside, the miracle of the Virgin of Chilla, the patron saint of Candeleda, is narrated on panels. The festivities in honor of the Virgin of Chilla, declared of National Tourist Interest, are celebrated on the second and third weekend of September. The sanctuary is located 6 km from Candeleda and offers magnificent panoramic views of the Rosarito Reservoir and the sky. Legend has it that the Virgin appeared to a shepherd named Finardo, who had lost a goat due to eating weeds. The Virgin resurrected the goat, and since then, it has always been represented that way. If you ever have the opportunity to visit this place, you will be immersed in a spiritual and tranquil experience surrounded by the natural beauty of the area. 🌿🌟