Portal de Turismo de Castilla y León

Welcome to the Arribes del Duero Park House "El Torreón de Sobradillo."

As in the rest of the houses of the park spread throughout the Castilla y León region, it is the recommended gateway to these natural areas. At this interpretation centre, you can receive information about the Natural Area and get assistance when organising your visit to viewpoints, routes, villages, and other points of interest.

It is located in front of the "Torreón de Sobradillo." Before starting the tour, you should know that there are different spaces inside. This audio guide is divided into audio tracks with the information contained in the different rooms. The end of each track is marked by a single beep like the one you will hear now when the information changes:

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And a double beep when there is a space change. [SOUND SAMPLE] [SOUND SAMPLE]

After the beep, you can choose to skip to the next audio track.

The Arribes del Duero Park House "El Torreón de Sobradillo" is located in a 12th century medieval keep. It is a stone building with a square ground plan, approximately 6 metres on each side and 15 metres high. The door takes up the centre of the west façade. At 5 metres from the ground, there is a second door with a balcony, also centred on the façade, through which the keep used to be accessed. To the right, there is a rectangular stone building, formerly a cistern, where rainwater was collected for the use of the castle's services.

Visitors are welcomed in a building located to the left of the keep, in the Castle Square, opposite the access ramp to the keep.

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Go to the building to the left of the keep, where the visit to the Park House begins.

Pass through a half-open wooden gate into an enclosed porch, with a glass in front and the entrance door to the building on the right, also made of glass.

Inside, on the left is the reception desk and the green shop where you can buy local products and a souvenir of your visit.

On the right you will find a high table against the wall, where you can find information brochures on routes and other facilities. If you continue to the right, you will find a door that leads to the toilets on the left-hand side. Down the toilet corridor, first, you will find the accessible toilet, the second one is the men's bathroom, and past a glass door, you will find, on the right, two more toilet doors for women, and a small washbasin in the left corner.

Leaving the corridor and on your left-hand side, you will find a door leading to the audio-visual room.

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The visit begins in this multi-purpose room, where a video is projected that covers the entire natural space. Take a seat and enjoy the video. It lasts about twenty minutes.

To continue your visit, retrace your steps and exit the building. Move on to the keep.

If you wish, our reception staff will provide you with information about the Arribes del Duero Nature Park.

The Arribes del Duero protected area was declared a Nature Park by Spain in 2002 and in 1998 by Portugal. The Park has two Park Houses, one in Sobradillo (Salamanca), located in the Keep and the other in Fermoselle (Zamora), in the Convent of Saint Francis.

The Arribes del Duero region, located in the west of Zamora and Salamanca, stands out for its deep canyons formed by the Duero River, which serves as a border with Portugal. Almost 100 kilometres long, this area offers a rugged granite landscape and diverse flora and fauna.

The Arribes relief belongs to the Palaeozoic bedrock and is mainly composed of granite and granodiorite. The Duero, Huebra, Tormes, Camaces, and Uces rivers have sculpted the landscape. One of the most beautiful and spectacular waterfalls in the whole Iberian Peninsula is located in the canyon of the Uces River: Pozo de los Humos, with a waterfall that is over 50-metres high.

Within the region there are interesting towns such as Fermoselle, in Zamora and San Felices de los Gallegos, in Salamanca, both of which have been declared Historic-Artistic Sites. Arribes del Duero is home to a rich heritage that includes remains of the Vettones remains as forts, anthropomorphic tombs, stelae, mediaeval fountains, as well as elements related to agricultural and livestock life, such as mills, oil mills and chiviteros, a typical hut.

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Sobradillo is on Portugal's border thanks to the Águeda River. The town has been populated since Neolithic times, but its current location is due to the repopulation carried out by the León kings in the 12th century. The Order of the Temple managed the town, which later came under the Diocese of Ciudad Rodrigo and was governed by Count Sancho and Beatriz of Portugal in the 14th century. They maintained the Lordship of Sobradillo, with taxes such as the Noveno, until the 19th century. With the division of Spain in 1833, Sobradillo became part of the Region of León.

In recent years, the population has been slowly declining and in 2022, the census amounted to 193.

A ramp made of wooden slats will lead you to the excavation of the castle in front of the keep, which shows the rooms of the old castle, built in the 12th century to protect León’s border from Portugal. In the 15th century, the keep was completely refurbished, giving it its present-day appearance. In its structure, the coats of arms of the Rodríguez de Ledesma family are displayed, adding a distinctive touch to its history and architecture.

A metal staircase on the right and a ramp on the left lead you to the platform before the entrance door to the Keep. This platform surrounds the building on the left.

Stand on the platform with your back to the keep. In front of you is a small 16th-century parade ground, which was only discovered about 15 years ago when the concrete covering it was excavated.

Today, the remains of the wall frame the enclosure. To its left is an old cistern, known as "El pozo de las monedas," a coin well. In the background, there are the remains of a barn that was connected to the stables on the right through a window. In front of these stables, there is a small storeroom, and to the right, in the corner of the enclosure, a defence tower. The hall boasts the original floor, composed of boulders.

Excavations have only gone as far as the neighbouring houses, so it has not been possible to find the end of the fortification and its actual size is unknown, although we know it was small. Despite its size, it was of great strategic importance for Portugal as it was part of the direct border, as mentioned in Portuguese military documents. It was prominent during the wars of secession, especially in 1668, when Portugal gained its independence. It also played a significant role in the succession wars that took place on the Spanish-Portuguese border.

The fortress suffered its last destruction in 1707, and the town of Sobradillo carried out the demolition to prevent it from falling into Portugal's hands. During the reconstruction, the entrance was modified and placed in what used to be the entrance to the cellars. The original entrance was on the first floor and was accessed via wooden stairs.

The Keep is currently the Arribes del Duero Nature Park House.

Enter the House.

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As you enter the Park House, you will come to a square interior, with stone walls, a wooden ceiling and a wooden staircase and metal railing with a wooden handrail attached to the walls of the keep.

To your left, on the wall, there is a panel entitled "Arribes, ad ripam, on the riverside" which contains photographs, information, and a map of the Arribes del Duero natural area.

Next, on the wall on your left, are the two doors to the toilets. The first door leads to the ladies’ toilet and the second to the gentlemen’s restroom.

In front of the entrance door, a large panel takes up the entire wall. From left to right, there is a screen showing the Lady of the Castle welcoming you and telling you the history of the castle and the Nature Park. On this panel there is also a map of the natural areas of Castilla y León, a relief model of the Arribes de Duero Nature Park and an information panel.

On the right wall, there is a platform that is one and a half metres wide and ten centimetres high, above which is a 60-centimetre pedestal attached to the wall. In the centre, there is an aquarium with a screen behind it, playing a video of fish from the Park's rivers. In the centre of the closing skirt that rolls down to the floor, a sign reads: "Do you know the species of our rivers?"

The house in which you are now was rebuilt by a training workshop. The Town Council ceded the space to the Junta de Castilla y León to create the Park House, and thanks to the masonry and carpentry work carried out by the students, the interior structure was restored. Although the floors were kept in their original location, the staircase was relocated to improve access to the upper floors.

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Stand in front of the model of the park, which is protected by glass.

The Arribes del Duero Nature Park covers a narrow strip of more than 1000 square kilometres along the western border of Zamora and Salamanca, marking the boundary between Spain and Portugal. This territory, with its unique orography, presents notable contrasts between the peneplain and the highlands formed by the course of the Duero River and its tributaries.

The geographical configuration of this natural space, with a valley sheltered from the winds and very exposed to the sun, creates a microclimate favourable to a wide plant biodiversity. The imposing cliffs and rocky peaks, with a gradient of up to 400 metres, provide the main habitat for the park's most outstanding fauna: Birds.

Geomorphology is one of the main features of this area. It is a gently eroded peneplain, revealing Palaeozoic granitic materials that is over 350 million years old. The erosive action of the rivers has carved deep valleys with steep walls, known as arribes, which extend for almost 180 kilometres.

The Duero River crosses the park from north to south for 100 kilometres, serving as a border with Portugal and forming large canyons. The tributaries such as Esla, Tormes, Uces, Huebra, Camaces, and Águeda contribute to the continuity of the Arribes unique rugged landscape. To the south, the Águeda River, which acts as a border with Portugal, has viewpoints such as Molinillo and Torno. Further south, in San Felices de los Gallegos, the Turón River marks the border with Portugal.

To the north and west, the Águeda River joins the Duero at Vega Terrón, the lowest point in the park at just 135 metres above sea level. From this point, the Duero is navigable down to its mouth.

With approximately 107,000 hectares in Zamora and Salamanca, the park also extends into Portugal, covering over 200,000 hectares of protected area along the Duero and its tributaries in total.

The existence of five dams, two in Salamanca and three in Zamora, has modified the course of the Duero, avoiding rapids and steep waterfalls. These dams are essential to control the flow of the river, taking advantage of the fracture zones of the bedrock and eroding the softer metamorphic rocks, compared to the granitic rocks.

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Approach the aquarium on the pedestal.

Above it and on both sides of the aquarium, there are life-size models of the park's cyprinidae, commonly known as carp.

To the left of the aquarium, you can find achondrostoma arcasii, exclusive to the Iberian Peninsula; sarda, endemic to the province of Salamanca; squalius alburnoides, exclusive to the Iberian Peninsula and the Iberian nase, also exclusive to the Iberian Peninsula. On the right, you’ll find the northern straight-mouth nase and cobitis paludica, exclusive to the Iberian Peninsula; and the Alagón cobitis paludica, exclusive to the Alagón basin, in the province of Salamanca, in danger of extinction.

Cyprinidae are freshwater fish, characterised by their elongated and laterally compressed body, and their mouths ending in barbels. Their colouring varies widely, and they may have patterns such as scales, spots, or even stripes. They are omnivorous fish that feed on aquatic plants, insects, crustaceans, and small fish. Reproduction usually occurs in spring, with fertilised eggs attaching to aquatic vegetation.

All these species are highly threatened by the introduction of exotic species, as well as dams and water pollution.

Climb the stairs.

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As you go along, you will find a photo of the exterior of the east façade of the Keep in which the ground, first, mezzanine, second, third, and battlements are marked.

If you continue climbing the stairs, you will discover the landscape of the Arribes. In the second section, you will find a model of a kestrel in a niche in the wall.

Compared to other birds of prey, kestrels are relatively small, although they are larger than most birds. They have long reddish wings with black spots, as well as a distinctive long tail that is grey on top, with a rounded black edge. The males’ plumage boasts a blue-greyish tinge on the head. Their dimensions range from 34 to 38 cm from head to tail, with a wingspan of 70 to 80 cm. The average weight of an adult male is around 150 grams, while the female weighs approximately 190 grams.

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Once you reach the first floor, you will be in the main room of the keep. As you leave the staircase, there is a fire extinguisher on the wall and a picture of the Park that reads: "In the depths of the Nature Park." In the sign, marked between 130 and 550 metres above sea level, unique fish swim, stalked by otters and black storks, and orange groves grown at the riverside.

What is represented in this room is the lower part of the river, with the Arribes canyons and its many waterfalls, such as the Pozo de los Humos, which are formed by the unique orography.

In the hall, you will find a life-size model of a waterfall and a river area with grey rock walls and bottom. It takes up a rectangular area between the side walls. It is two metres deep and two and a half metres high. A black stork stands on a rocky ledge on the left and an otter stands among the plants on the right bank. At the top, on the right rock face, there is a Bonelli's eagle. On the left, near the waterfall, there is a griffon vulture. Outside the illustrated space there is a model of an Egyptian vulture in flight hanging from the ceiling.

Arribes del Duero has an impressive animal variety that covers all groups of living beings. The vertebrates are the most studied animal group with over 300 identified species. Among the birds, of which there are more than 200 species, the large rupicolous birds stand out, that is, birds living in rock formations such as cliffs or canyons. Very important examples are the black stork and the Bonelli's eagle, the most endangered bird of prey in Castilla y León, which finds a crucial refuge in the Arribes. Another important species is the Eurasian crag martin, which builds its nests with mud in the cliffs of the Arribes, like swallows. It is a bird measuring about 14 cm in length. Its plumage has ash-brown upperparts and lighter underparts, with a short, square tail exhibiting distinctive white markings.

As for other birds, such as necrophagous birds, one of the most important Egyptian vulture populations in Spain is located in this region. In addition, on the rocky outcrops, a healthy population of griffon vultures and golden eagles can be observed, as well as the presence of peregrine falcons and eagle owls.

Among the steppe birds, the Dupont's lark has its most westerly breeding site on the Iberian Peninsula. This species is threatened by greenhouses, wind farms, and new irrigated crops. A 2005 study estimated that there were no more than 1300 pairs in the whole of Spain.

The intense sunlight contributes to the presence of reptiles, with more than 18 species, including the ocellated lizard, the Algerian psammodromus, and the ladder snake.

There is also the presence of mammals such as genets, wild boars, and roe deer. The rich variety of fauna make Arribes del Duero a unique and significant habitat.

On the panels, you can also find the change that the construction of the dams brought about, preventing fish from the sea such as eels and sturgeon from swimming upstream and allowing the proliferation of water sports. A long panel in front of the model speaks of Barca and Cañales, highlighting the importance of fishing in the past, the mills that ground cereal and the fulling mills where the fibres of the blankets and woollen capes were pressed. A study on the flora and fauna of the Arribes’ rivers is also on display.

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On the left wall, next to the stone wall of the waterfall depiction, there is a door and, next to it, a depiction of a cave, the entrance to which is protected by glass and that extends from the wall to the stairwell leading to the next floor.

This is a simulation of a bat cave with models of bats attached to the wall and hanging from the ceiling. There, you will also find information on the 18 species that have been discovered in the Park.

Bats possess a unique feature in the animal kingdom: echolocation. Most bat species use this amazing system to navigate and hunt in the dark. They emit high-frequency ultrasound and, by listening to the echoes of these sounds as they bounce off objects, they can map their environment with astonishing accuracy. This sophisticated method allows them to avoid obstacles, detect prey and even distinguish details as fine as the outline of a human hair. Bats’ echolocation stands out as a unique and essential adaptation that has contributed to the success of these animals in diverse ecosystems around the world.

Continue up the stairs to the mezzanine landing.

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After the first flight of stairs, you will come to the mezzanine, which still has the huge chimney flue that takes up most of the wall.

In the right-hand corner, there is a stele of a spot with the head of Saint Peter.

The chimney flue has a round, stone mouth two metres above the mezzanine.

Originally, it had a large bell up to the first floor, because in the past there was no such landing.

On the next wall, a panel explains the geological origin of Arribes del Duero, from the Thetis Sea.

Climb the steps to the first floor.

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As you climb up the stairs, the slopes of the Arribes are recreated with photos of the rivers, which are situated between 250 and 650 metres above the sea.

This second floor is a room delimited by three walls of the keep and a railing, in the form of a gallery, which overlooks the staircase you used to get here. The ceiling is also made of wood.

On the first wall, on the left, there is a mural, with a realistic painting, depicting a wild area of the Arribes, with a vulture flying overhead. In front of the mural, you will find a table with photos and information about the different terrain of the slopes where almond trees, vines, and olive trees are grown. In the centre of the second left wall there is a window, with stone benches in the walls forming the window opening, where you may stop and rest. Next, there is a screen.

On the third wall, there is a mural with photographs of plants from the Arribes. Next to it, there is an easel holding information on sacred crags, hermitages, forts, and stelae. Information is also provided on the cultural topography with names that form a heritage passed down by word of mouth, such as palambreras, fayales, picones, canaleas, resayos vagüeras, and colagas.

This floor highlights the vegetation and landscape of the Arribes hillsides, characterised by forests and crops adapted to the Mediterranean climate. The protection of the canyon and its low altitude favour the development of these slopes. In these areas of varying altitude, forests of hackberry, cornicabra, juniper, Montpellier maple, strawberry trees, and prickly pears thrive, forming Mediterranean forests. It is worth noting that the best variety of hackberry in the entire Mediterranean basin is found in the Nice area, occupying an area of 4.5 kilometres.

Cultivation on the slopes was done on terraces, with orange groves in the lower areas and olive trees, vineyards and almond trees at higher altitudes, favoured by milder temperatures. While the Portuguese slope is fully cultivated up to the river, the Spanish slope shows the possible past presence of terraces that were abandoned and colonised by Mediterranean forest.

The Arribes region stands out for the production of olive oil, with the olive variety called zorzal de Arribes, unique to Ahigal de los Aceiteros and San Felices de los Gallegos. It is also worth mentioning the production of wine with the Arribes denomination of origin, made from a red grape exclusive to the area. Additionally, almonds, which are exported to Alicante, Valencia and Toledo for the production of nougat and marzipan are especially significant.

The mural you’ll find across depicts a meander of the Huebra River and places you in a fort on the opposite summit. These forts were strategic positions used by the Breton settlements in Arribes, such as this one, where the Huebra River defended the settlement and only the walled entrance had to be protected.

The television screen in this room explains the history of the region from Mediaeval times to the present day by means of a representation of the characters of this area.

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Turn towards the window. The presiding turret is a reflection of the fact that the keep served as a residence from the 15th to the 19th century, and had a defensive function.

From the window, you can see Sierro de la Horca, where the Sacred Heart of Jesus is located. Built in the second half of the 18th century, it is located at one of the highest points of the village, at an altitude of 696 metres above sea level. The place is known as the Sierro de la Horca because historically it was used to execute those sentenced to death for treason against their lord. Despite its sombre history, from this site you can enjoy a breath-taking view of the town and its surroundings.

Did you know that they say that from this window the lord watched the rebels being executed?

Climb to the top floor.

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The third floor is dedicated to the peneplain, located at the top of the Nature Park, between 450 and 750 metres above sea level.

At the top right and at the bottom of the staircase, there is a gap in the wall about a metre thick that leads to a window. On the wall in front of the staircase, a panel provides information on the peneplain. Next, on the same wall, there are two more panels. The second panel is made up of black and white photographs that make up a memory corner. Below this panel is an animal feeder carved into a log.

On the next wall, going anticlockwise around the room, there is an easel and a table. In the corner between this wall and the next, there is a mural depicting a typical cortina of the area. Next, there is a model of a fountain, a panel hanging on the wall and a table with another information panel. Next to it, there is a window and a new staircase leading up to the battlements.

The terrain of these peneplains alternates between granite and other rocks such as quartzite and quartz. The predominant use of these peneplains is for pasture land, divided into smallholdings with small plots called cortinas, separated by stone walls. The landscape is dominated by holm oaks, oaks, and cork oaks, with some ash trees in the cooler areas.

In the southern part of the region, holm oaks predominate, while as you go north, you will find oak groves. In the Zamora area there are large cork oak forests that played a crucial role in the feeding of livestock thanks to their acorns. Cereals, pulses, and potatoes were also grown for both human and animal consumption. The current decline in agricultural activity influences the presence of rabbits and partridges, which are key components of the Bonelli's eagle's diet.

The geological reality of the region influences both the natural landscape and the popular architecture, where granite is the fundamental building material. Thus, the cortinas, the walls dividing the plots, were built with granite, slate or quartz, depending on the predominant material in the area. These structures not only have practical functions, but also were sources of biodiversity by providing habitats for various species that hunt or nest in them.

Livestock farming has been and remains the fundamental economic base in the region, while agriculture, which used to be essential, is nowadays limited to small farms near the villages.

The rich historical heritage of the park reflects the influence of various cultures over time, from the Celts with their numerous forts, to the Roman domination evident in roads and funerary stelae. The Visigothic and Muslim invasions also left their mark until the arrival of Christianity. The hermitages and churches of the 10th and 11th centuries under the Kingdom of Castile and León stand out among the sites.

Popular architecture, centred on stone, plays an important role in this territory, with dwellings with different structures and façades, generating a significant architectural variety.

Also noteworthy are the cultivation terraces, bridges, fountains, wells with crankshafts, and waterwheels that make use of the water flowing from the rivers, as well as the cattle crushes.

The area is currently developing quality tourism linked to specific local action programmes, partly motivated by the designation of the area as a Nature Park.

Climb up to the battlements of the keep.

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A panelled door grants access to the outside, where you come up against a parapet, a protective wall. There is a panel with photographs and information about the lands of Riba Coa and Castelo Rodrigo, both antagonistic Portuguese towns to Sobradillo.

Head towards the west side of the keep, from the battlements you can see the fields around the village.

If you leave the exit gate behind you, the Serra da Estrela, which belongs to the neighbouring country, will be right in front of you.

Continue towards the north face and skirt the red-tiled roof of the keep, which is inside the parapet.

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To the north is the confluence of the Águeda River with the Duero. In this area, you’ll find the Penedo Durao viewpoint, located in Portugal, which is the highest point in the southern part of the Arribes.

Continue to the east.

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If you go east, you will find a lookout post. It is a small lookout post attached to the keep on the corner.

Continue south.

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Continue to the south side. The highest point in front is the Sierro de la Horca.

Opposite is La Espadaña, a former Franciscan convent.

This area was very busy with pilgrims coming from Almofán, crossing the Águeda River and continuing south towards Sobradillo, San Felices de los Gallegos, and Ciudad Rodrigo. Its final destination was the Monastery of Peña de Francia, in the Salamanca Mountain Range.

On this southern side is the Jewish quarter of Sobradillo, which is very narrow and jumbled.

With this audio track, the visit is over. If you would like more details, you are welcome to come to the reception desk or ask any of the workers at the Park House.

Thank you for your visit.