Las Casiñas Altas brings together rural local culture and archaeological sites in the municipality of Valencia de Alcántara. When planning your trip, it is worth considering two different scales: the communal oven is part of local culture, while the dolmens and visitor routes offer a separate selection within the municipality. You can therefore treat the village itself and the wider archaeological sites as distinct focuses for your stay.
Communal Oven and Local Culture
The communal oven is used two or three times a year, allowing interested people to bake bread and sweet treats. The baked goods are shared during Semana Santa, at local festivals, and on a few other occasions. If you would like to take part, check in advance for a suitable occasion. Memories describe the oven as a covered, warm refuge where children spent winter afternoons. Its significance therefore extends beyond baking: it is also associated with time spent together in the village.
Megalithic Sites in the Municipality
The Dólmenes de Valencia de Alcántara complex in the municipality of Valencia de Alcántara comprises 41 dolmens. In 1992, it was designated a Bien de Interés Cultural in the Zona Arqueológica category. Five routes have been created for visiting different megalithic sites: Tapias, Zafra, Las Lanchas, Huertas de las Monjas, and Los Mellizos. The number of dolmens and the route names answer different questions: the 41 dolmens describe the extent of the megalithic heritage in the municipality; the five routes help you choose among different sites. These are five separate routes, not stops on a single tour. So first choose one route as a specific destination, rather than assuming that the number of dolmens points to a single sightseeing circuit.
Landscape and Walking Options
Las Casiñas is an area rich in water, with centuries-old chestnut trees. At the municipal level, Valencia de Alcántara is part of Parque Natural Tajo Internacional. Another walking option in the municipality is El Molino de la Negra, one of two routes approved by FEDME. Check current trail conditions before setting out on a hike. The landscape features of Las Casiñas and the municipality’s inclusion in the park provide two distinct geographical reference points for planning your trip.
Accommodation and Planning
The rural apartments Apartamentos Rurales La Campiña are located in the hamlet of Las Casiñas Altas, in the Campiña extremeña. Contact the accommodation directly to ask about availability. For planning purposes, the activities differ: baking at the communal oven takes place two or three times a year; for hikes, check current trail conditions; and the megalithic sites can be explored via five separate routes.
Discover more destinations: Malpartida De Plasencia, Villanueva De La Vera, Barrado, Casares de las Hurdes, Zarza La Mayor, Arroyomolinos, Peraleda de la Mata, El Batán.
For the broader travel overview: Cáceres.
