Natural Parks in Extremadura

Cornalvo and Sierra Bermeja

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The Natural Park of Cornalvo and Sierra Bermeja is situated close to Mérida, the capital of Extremadura.
  • Region: Extremadura
  • Province: Badajoz
  • Declared a Natural Park: 2004
  • Park surface area: 11,601 hectares
  • ZEPA (Zona Especial Protección para las Aves) (1979)

Points of interest

The Natural Park of Cornalvo and Sierra Bermeja is situated close to Mérida, the capital of Extremadura.

It consists mainly of oak dehesas, (open oak woodland rotated with pasture and cereal crops) on rolling hills with the small mountain ranges of the Sierra del Moro and Sierra Bermeja on the western flank. The highest point is “Pico Terrero” at 546 m above sea level.

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Tajo International

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Tajo Internacional The river Tagus (known as the Tajo in Spanish and Tejo in Portuguese) is the longest river in Iberia. (1,038 kilometers in length.) Its source in the Albarracín mountains (near Teruel, south Aragon) and the city Lisbon, capital of Portugal, is placed at the estuary where it flows into the Atlantic ocean.
  • Region: Extremadura
  • Province: Cáceres
  • Declared a Natural Park: 2006
  • Park surface area: 25.088 hectares
  • ZEPA 2000. Tajo Internacional y Riberos

Points of interest

The Tajo International natural park is a relatively recently registered park in Extremadura which was initially partly covered by an area of special protection for birds ZEPA in 2000.

The area is predominantly waterways with steep banks and therefore a haven for wildlife. Two birds in particular that need this tranquility are the Black vulture and Black stork, both of which are endangered species in Spain.

Mediterranean woodland covers the hills with rich vegetation along the water courses.

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Valle del Jerte in Extremadura

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Valle del Jerte in Extremadura

Located in the extreme north-east of the province, the Valle del Jerte in Extremadura is bordered to the north by the provinces of Ávila and Salamanca, to the west by Valle del Ambroz, to the south by the city of Plasencia and to the east by La Vera. The area has become quite famous for … Read more

Monfragüe National Park

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The area of Monfragüe National Park is noted for its importance as a breeding area for a selection of rare and protected birds,
  • Region: Extremadura
  • Province: Cáceres
  • Declared a Natural Park: 1979
  • Upgraded to National Park: 2006
  • Park surface area: 18.852 hectares
  • Z.E.P.A (1988) Special Bird Protection Zone
  • Biosphere Reserve 2003

Points of interest

The area of Monfragüe National Park is noted for its importance as a breeding area for a selection of rare and protected birds, Black vulture, Black stork, Imperial eagle and Bonelli’s eagle.

Add to that the worlds most endangered wild cat, the Lynx which also resides here and one can see why it was upgraded from a natural to a national park.

The park altitudes range between 450 – 750m, covering an area 30km long and 7km wide. The habitat types are oak woods, scrub land, rocky out crops, river and reservoir plus dehesa.

The area has also become famous as a starlight destination. The Starlight Foundation is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2009 to promote the protection of the night sky and the development of “astrotourism” and there is an ever growing list of starlight destinations in Spain to visit.

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