Las Batuecas-Sierra de Francia Natural Park, Natural park in Province of Salamanca, Spain.
Las Batuecas-Sierra de Francia is a protected natural park in Salamanca Province with steep mountains and deep valleys filled with forests. The land here is covered in oak, chestnut, and cork trees that form dense woods across the mountainsides.
The region was settled by people during the Stone Age, as shown by cave paintings found in several caves here. These early artworks document some of the oldest traces of human activity in the Spanish mountains.
The Carmelite monastery of San José del Desierto sits hidden within these mountains as a sign of religious devotion from centuries past. Visitors can experience the remote setting that drew monks to this secluded location for their spiritual life.
The area is accessible through multiple entry points, with marked trails of different difficulty levels available for walkers. An information center can help with planning and answer questions about the best routes to take.
The area is home to a population of black storks that maintain genetic connections with birds in neighboring protected areas. These rare birds are hard to spot, but they make this park an important refuge for the species.
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