Cherry Tree Blossom Feast in the Valley of Jerte
At the end of March, the Valley of Jerte welcomes the spring season showing its best distinguishing feature: the beauty of its cherry trees blossoming.
Every spring, the Jerte Valley turns white when the cherry trees blossom. There are over a million cherry trees, and they usually flower at the same time, for about two weeks.
The bloom normally starts in the second half of March, but the exact dates change from year to year. The festival is held when the trees are in flower.
During the festival there are exhibitions, craft markets, concerts, and other cultural activities in the villages of the valley.
The blossoming landscape is the main attraction, and it is best enjoyed on foot, following the paths and roads between the villages.
In every town, local producers offer typical products: jams, wines, liqueurs, and dishes such as Jerte-style trout.
The valley
The Jerte Valley runs from the Tornavacas pass down to Plasencia, following the Jerte River. It is a narrow, green valley between high mountains, with terraced cherry orchards on the slopes.
The villages are small and traditional: Jerte, Cabezuela del Valle, Navaconcejo, Valdastillas, and Piornal, among others. In Piornal, at the top of the valley, you get wide views over the whole area.
The cherries here have their own protected designation of origin, Cereza del Jerte, and the local variety, the picota, is picked without its stem.
Beyond the blossom
Spring is the busiest season, but the valley is worth visiting all year. In summer you can walk to the Garganta de los Infiernos Nature Reserve, with its natural pools known as Los Pilones. In autumn, the oak and chestnut woods turn gold.
What to eat
Besides cherries and cherry products such as jams, liqueurs, and sweets, local menus include trout, migas, and cured meats from the mountains.
How to get there
Reach Plasencia on the A-66 highway, then take the N-110 south into the valley. Plasencia is about 1 hour from Cáceres and 2.5 hours from Madrid. The nearest airports are Madrid (MAD) and Badajoz (BJZ).
The blossom route
The easiest way to see the blossom is to drive the N-110 along the valley floor, stopping in the villages. There are also marked walking paths between the orchards, and the local tourist offices publish a blossom map each year.
Where to base yourself
Most visitors stay in Jerte, Cabezuela del Valle, or Plasencia, just outside the valley. Rural houses are common, and they fill up quickly during the blossom season.
Where to stay…
Hotels and rural houses in the Jerte Valley