Monfragüe National Park
Monfragüe National Park is located between Navalmoral de la Mata, Plasencia and Trujillo, and is one of the most important ornithological zones in Spain. In this amazing environment, imperial eagles, black vultures, and griffon vultures fly over the park.
Vultures flying near the castle
This natural area is 30 km long and 7 km wide, and is a valley crossed by the Tagus and Tiétar rivers. The municipality of Villarreal de San Carlos is one of the entrances to the park; moreover, there is an interactive center where you can learn about the species and plant life of Monfragüe. Serradilla, Toril or Torrejón el Rubio are other towns that surround the area.
The territory the national park occupies is one of the best-known natural areas in Extremadura.
The first settlers left cave paintings as proof of their stay in Monfragüe. Later on, the Romans called the place Mons Fragorum, dense mountain. From that moment on, different people who have settled here have adapted the area but respecting the landscape.
The National Park of Monfragüe is a clear example of Mediterranean forest and scrubland; it is located in Cáceres province, right in the center of a triangle formed by Navalmoral de la Mata, Plasencia and Trujillo.
Monfrague landscape
It was declared Natural Park in 1979; its 17,852 hectares reveal one of the most extensive Mediterranean forest areas. Holm oaks and cork oaks intermingle with rockroses. Strawberry trees, heathers and mastics intermingle with ashes, willows and hollies. Junipers emerge from cracked quartzite.
A wide variety of ornithological species nest in Monfragüe. It’s the perfect place to practice birdwatching.
Salto del Gitano at Monfrague National Park
Moreover, 280 species of the most significant animals of Spain inhabit the park. Eastern imperial eagle, black vulture, black stork, or Iberian lynx stand out; some of them are in danger of extinction. In particular, about 250 pairs of black vultures nest here, making it the largest black vulture reserve in the world.
Water is one of the key elements; the Tagus and Tiétar rivers surround Monfragüe, and their waters carve the quartzite rocky outcrops where griffon vulture colonies settle, and where peregrine falcons, Bonelli’s eagle or Eurasian eagle-owl nest.
On the riverside and watercourses live kingfishers, cormorants, or nightingales, as well as animals that live in the water such as the otter.
Monfragüe has been recently declared a National Park for being a singular, unique Spanish biodiversity space. Thus, it belongs to the Spanish National Parks Network.
More info about birding in Monfrague at birdwatching Spain
Where to stay…
Hospederia Parque de Monfrague (****)
Plasencia city is only a few kilometers from Monfrague