Sierra Grande de Hornachos mountain range
A protected mountain range in the center of Badajoz province, with holm and cork oak forests and rocky peaks where griffon vultures and golden eagles nest.
The Sierra Grande de Hornachos is a mountain range in the center of Badajoz province, in the Tierra de Barros region. It borders the regions of Campiña Sur and La Serena.
Sierra Grande de Hornachos. Landscape
The range is a Special Protection Area for birds. It stands out for the variety of its plant life and for the open plains that surround it.
The landscape
The Matachel and Guadámez rivers and the Palomillas stream define the area geographically. Rocky outcrops mix with dense forests of holm oaks and cork oaks, together with wild olives, junipers, and river vegetation such as oleanders.
Mountain ranges
Wildlife
The hills, forests, streams, and cereal plains feed more than 220 species of vertebrates. On the rocky ledges, large birds such as the griffon vulture and the golden eagle nest.
The Matachel river is home to native fish such as the jarabugo, calandino, boga, and pardilla. The area also has a wide variety of amphibians and reptiles.
Things to do
- Hike or cycle the tracks that cross the range.
- Watch birds of prey from the viewpoints around Hornachos.
- Visit Hornachos, the town at the foot of the range, which has a Moorish past and a castle on the hill.
How to get there
The range is about an hour’s drive from Mérida and Badajoz, close to the A-66 and A-5 highways. The main access towns are Hornachos, Puebla de la Reina, and Llerena.