Villafáfila, the Cistercian Lagoons
- Position
- Villafáfila
In the middle of the Zamora grain steppe, where the horizons are undulatingly infinite, the oasis of Villafávila opens up, a temporary and saline lagoon complex where thousands of birds from all over the continent meet to spend the winter. The highest density of bustards on the planet is concentrated here.
Beyond its incontestable environmental value, its historical importance dates back to five thousand years ago, when human settlements began to exploit salt production, an activity that had its peak between the 10th and 13th centuries. Later, King Carlos III wanted to boost activity again with the Royal Saltpeter Factory of Villafáfila, whose production ended with the Napoleonic invasion. Salt mining activity as part of economic activity throughout history has influenced communications as witnessed by the Roman bridge that is preserved next to the lagoons, in the towns that dot the landscape, where the traditional architecture of adobe.
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What to see?
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