The best MTB trails around Cristóbal

At the village's social meeting point, the Plaza Mayor with its arcades, stands a beautiful granite pilgrim's cross.

Striking about the houses are the stone support beams above the doorposts. Religious texts are engraved on them and there are dates from the 1700s and 1800s. After the reconquista, when the area was repopulated, many Jews came to live in the village. Because the church forbade the Jews to practice their religion, they had to prove that they had joined the Catholic church by engraving biblical texts above their houses.

Great flat section on prfect gravel

On the SA-205 highway, just outside San Esteban de la Sierra heading towards Santibáñez de la Sierra, you'll find the entrance to the Sierra Viewpoints Route, which includes several spectacular panoramic viewpoints. Views: The Alagón River Valley and its meanders. The Sierra de Francia mountain range with the Peña de Francia peak in the background. The Sierra de Béjar mountain range and the Las Quilamas Natural Area. This viewpoint is a magnificent natural balcony, perfect for photography and birdwatching (vultures, eagles, black storks).

The portraits on the facades of Mogarraz are one of the town's most striking features. In 2012, artist Florencio Maíllo began a project to recover old ID photos taken in the 1960s by Alejandro Martín. He painted more than 800 portraits on canvases and placed them on the facades of the town's houses. Each portrait depicts a resident who lived there during that time, creating a unique open-air museum in Spain. The goal: to preserve collective memory and bring the streets to life with art.

Zúñiga Castle: A 15th-century fortress, symbol of the former County of Miranda. Although it is not open to the public, its exterior and keep are impressive.

What to see in Miranda del Castañar Medieval Walls: Over 600 meters remain intact, with four gates facing the cardinal directions: San Ginés, Nuestra Señora, La Villa, and El Postigo. Zúñiga Castle: A 15th-century fortress, symbol of the former County of Miranda. Although the interior is not open to the public, its exterior and keep are impressive. Square Bullring: Considered one of the oldest in Spain, built in the 16th century on the site of the former parade ground. Church of Santiago and San Ginés: Gothic in style (13th-16th centuries), with a detached 17th-century bell tower. Houses with Coats of Arms: More than 80 noble coats of arms adorn the facades, reflecting the town's aristocratic past.

Miranda del Castañar, one of the most beautiful villages in Spain, is located in the Sierra de Francia (Salamanca): Founded in 1213 by Alfonso IX of León as a town and council, it was the administrative capital of the Sierra de Francia. In the 15th century, the County of Miranda was created under the control of the Zúñiga family, consolidating its strategic importance.