Sierra de Francia, Biosphere reserve in southeastern Salamanca, Spain
Sierra de Francia is a mountain range with peaks and valleys covered in forests, stretching across the border between Castile and Extremadura. The terrain features woodlands of cork and chestnut trees at lower elevations and open grasslands at higher points.
The area became a protected park in the late 1970s and gained UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status in 2006. This recognition reflected growing efforts to safeguard mountain ecosystems in Spain.
The hillside villages such as La Alberca and Mogarraz feature narrow stone streets and whitewashed houses where residents continue traditional ways of living. Local festivals and crafts remain part of everyday community life in these mountain settlements.
A visitor center in San Martín del Castañar offers maps and information about trails and seasonal activities. Spring and autumn are ideal times to explore, when weather is mild and the landscape is most inviting.
The slopes near Miranda del Castañar hold ancient groves of strawberry trees, a species rarely seen at such scale in Europe. These evergreens with reddish bark create a distinctive appearance, especially visible from village pathways.
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