With the arrival of autumn, several areas throughout the Spanish territory stand out for the natural quality of their forests, which acquire golden, reddish and brown tones during the season. Thus, around the entire Peninsula it is possible to enjoy a large number of chestnut groves, as well as unique traditions around them.
These forests are not only full of customs and nature, but also stand out for producing one of the most consumed fruits in the cold months, chestnuts, which also have a unique harvesting method. Once ripe, it falls to the ground wrapped in a protective layer of sharp spikes, which complicates its collection.
Spain has great alternatives to enjoy all the wonders that the chestnut groves offer in autumn, including a large number of hiking routes to do with family or friends. We tell you which are the most striking chestnut trees in the country.
The Chestnut Grove of El Tiemblo, in Ávila
In the south of Castilla y León, we find the El Tiemblo chestnut grove and the path that crosses it. Along its circular route, which begins and ends in an old stone shelter, it is possible to enjoy what is known as El Abuelo, a century-old chestnut tree that is more than 500 years old.
In this way, along the PRC-AV 54 path, it is possible to marvel at the 4.4 kilometers of natural environment to be covered in approximately 2 hours on foot. In addition, when traveling through the natural space it will be possible to see several species of animals native to the area, which enjoy a diet based on the chestnuts offered by the forest trees.
It is not allowed to go off the path or collect chestnuts which, according to the City Council’s own Tourism website, are of low quality for human consumption. Furthermore, if we collect them, we would be taking away the main food from the animals that inhabit those forests.
However, the path is hardly difficult, making it an ideal alternative to be walked with children or people with limited mobility.
Castañar de los Ojestos, in Cáceres
In the province of Cáceres, north of Extremadura, the Ojestos chestnut tree stands out for the extraordinary natural and heritage wealth it possesses. The enclave has several marked trails among which you can enjoy this type of trees to the fullest; one of them coincides with the CC-208 Local Trail, also called Between rivers and forests.
In this way, along the circular route of just over 5 and a half kilometers in length, it is possible to enjoy some of the best chestnut groves on the Iberian Peninsula, included in the Network of Protected Natural Spaces of Extremadura for their extraordinary value. environmental and state of conservation.
The route, which begins on the street with the same name, crosses the Camino del Convento towards the current Hospedería Conventual Sierra de Gata, the hermitage of the Cruz Bendita and the Molino de Frailes, it will be from there that you will have to enter the chestnut grove, which has beacons and marked trails so that it can be completed in the easiest way possible.
Chestnut grove of O Courel, in Lugo
The chestnut grove of O Courel, in the autonomous community of Galicia, has great biodiversity and enormous landscape richness thanks to the forest located in the mountain range with the same name, which combines different species of native trees, forming a unique autumn image, full of colors.
Throughout the entire mountain range, it is possible to enjoy a large number of centuries-old chestnut trees, which surround the mountain and provide shelter to a wide variety of species in the area. In this way, all of them are signposted, so they are great alternatives to explore the mountains, although it is estimated that it takes 3 days to discover the entire natural space.
On the other hand, chestnuts have been a product of great importance in the area, since for a long time they have constituted the fundamental basis of the diet of both the surrounding inhabitants and animal species. Among the most striking preparations with this fruit, the following stand out:
- Chestnut broth.
- Chestnuts with bacon.
- Chestnut milk.
The chestnuts of Montseny Park
The Montseny Natural Park, in Catlaunya, in addition to being a biosphere reserve and one of the oldest, also stands out for its chestnut trees. Specifically, it houses one of the most important trees in the nature reserve, the Can Cuch Chestnut tree, in the town of Viladrau.
It is a monumental tree, about 18 meters high and 12 meters in perimeter, and to see it you must follow a route between La Garriga and Llinars del Vallès BP-5107 km 40.
Precisely in the town of Viladrau, the Chestnut Fair will take place in the next few days (between October 26 and 27), with cultural activities that seek to praise the historical memory of the product and its tradition.
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