Six green routes for a more sustainable holiday weekend

Val de Zafán greenway by bike or horseback

The old railway line that connected Tortosa with Alcañiz, converted into a Greenway, can be easily traveled by bicycle and enters the Matarranya region -on the border between Teruel, Tarragona and Castellón- where there is a wide network of paths to do on horseback. . The route can be taken and resumed at any height, it is approximately 130 kilometers long and its smooth and linear profile makes it suitable for all types of public. The landscape is changing as it connects two of the most spectacular parks in Catalonia: the Parque Natural dels Ports and the Parque Natural del Delta. In addition to being dotted with bridges, rivers, roads and old stops, it crosses numerous tunnels, so it is advisable to bring good light. If it is done in two or three days, it is worth a stop in an old medieval town such as Cretas (Teruel) or in Beceite, in the mountainous massif of the same name.

Flamingos in the Ebro Delta

It is a vital aquatic habitat among the wetlands of the Mediterranean where you can observe birds in all seasons of the year. More than 350 different species have been identified. There, 70% of the world’s population of the rare Audouin’s gull breeds and the flamingos number in the thousands. The flamingo colony, of which more than 4,000 pairs have been counted, is located in the La Tancada observatory. The Generalitat has published a standard list of birds in the delta to learn more about the species that can be observed in the area. Do not forget the binoculars. Due to the layout of the land, which is completely flat, bicycles are the best option to explore its rice fields and viewpoints. There are also large lagoons surrounded by reed beds and reeds, brackish soils and deserted beaches with dune formations. Declared a Biosphere Reserve in 2013, the Delta has been recognized internationally with the distinctive of the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism.

A train to the Canal de Castilla

A perfect getaway just one hour from Madrid, if you take the Canal de Castilla train, it allows you to know the operation of the 49 locks of this enormous 18th century hydraulic engineering work and the only navigable canal in Spain. The tour can be done by boat, canoe or bicycle and can be completed with visits to Medina de Rioseco -where the reception center for travelers is- the castles of Tiedra and Fuensaldaña and the monastery of Santa María de Matallana.

On the left bank of the Dock you can visit the ‘San Antonio’ ​​Flour Factory, an old flour mill from the 19th century and today the only example of industrial architecture of the canal that conserves its original machinery in its entirety. Asset of Cultural Interest in 1991, elcanal has created a habitat that favors the life of many species. Autumn is particularly especially for its ocher hues.

Celtic Autumn in Casas del Castañar

From December 3 to 12 in the Jerte Valley, the offer is wide: the 7th edition of the Art-Rural Fest, the Dulce Otoñada in Navaconejo and the Celtic autumn in Casas de Castañar, the starting point of one of the largest oak groves in Europe. . There are ancient chestnut trees on one of the most popular routes in the area: a 5-kilometer route to discover species cataloged as Singular Trees of Extremadura. And the route that passes through the Era of San Bernabé offers views of Plasencia or that of the cordon of Valle Cuadrilleros. Casas del Castañar – heir to the Celtic past of northern Extremadura – will have a Celtic market, live music by Celtic groups, conferences and exhibitions. In the Sierra de San Bernabé you can visit the remains of the Risco de Villavieja fortress, located on a watchtower with spectacular views of the Jerte Valley, which is also a good spot for ornithology fans.

Very close to A Coruña, the As Mariñas Biosphere Reserve combines urban and rural dynamics and to its cultural and natural heritage a gastronomy is added where the protagonist is the local and seasonal product. Its 116,724.5 hectares, terrestrial and marine, give shelter to a great biological diversity that allows us to know two large river basins, those of the Mero and Mandeo rivers, riverside forests, wetlands and the connection between inland and coastal waters typical of the Atlantic forest . You can see forts, monasteries, castles, traditional paths called “Corredoiras & rdquor ;, surrounded by centenary native forests. As Mariñas is the first Ecotourism destination in Galicia, according to the Ecotourism Club in Spain. There are different hiking routes divided into thematic areas: environmental values ​​(coastline, coastline and Atlantic beaches), historical value (crosses, churches, monasteries and pazos) and a variety of flora and fauna (riverside forest, cliffs and birds).

Nearly 200 species of birds live in the Cabañeros National Park located in the Montes de Toledo, including large raptors such as the black vulture, the Iberian eagle and the golden eagle. It is also a land of large mammals and there you can see deer, wild boar and roe deer. Bustards, little bustards and little bustards can be seen in its rañas – the plains between the undulations of the mountains. Not only that, Cabañeros is home to four species of fauna in danger of extinction and eight vulnerable. Gall oaks, maples, holm oaks and cork oaks originate a mixed character forest. In addition, it is a magnificent geological representation of the Cambrian period, with important fossil deposits, among which are the most extensive trilobite tracks in Europe. In the nearby towns there are a variety of elements of historical heritage As the castle of Malamoneda de Hontanar or the archaeological site of the same name. At present, in some places inside the National Park, the uncorking of cork oaks and beekeeping.

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