The best MTB trails around Sobradillo

Lumbrales is a municipality in the region of El Abadengo, in the province of Salamanca, Castilla y León. Lumbrales is twinned with the Italian town of Montenero Val Cocchiara Near its border with the municipality of Bermellar is the Castro de Las Merchanas, an old Vetón settlement that is one of the most attractive tourist attractions within the Arribes Natural Park. of the Douro.

In the lands of the west of Salamanca this fortress stands, a clear example of the ups and downs and border disputes. According to the chronicles, it was built in the 13th century by the Portuguese king Don Dinis. With the character of a fortress palace, it is located at one end of the urban area.

The city of Lumbrales is visited mainly for the ruins of Castro Vetón on its outskirts, but also in the urban area it offers several interesting places to visit. Among them, the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción and the Verraco Vetón stand out in front of it and a few steps from the Plaza Mayor.

The sites dating back to pre-Roman times up to the most recent ones related to the culture of the castros and boars are known as Vetón territory. It has been studied that the occupation of these territories dates back to the Iron Age 500 years ago and even much earlier up to the 5th century in the case of this particular site of Las Merchanas. In the golden age of these territories, these settlements were mainly populated by shepherds and warriors who, according to various Roman writers, were known as "vetones".

The castle tower that still stands was part of the fortress built in the 13th century by the Portuguese king Don Dinis to protect the lands in the area. It is advisable to visit the tower inside, it houses a Historical Interpretation Classroom and a permanent exhibition on the Border Fortifications. In addition, from the top floor you can enjoy beautiful views of the entire area, including neighboring Portuguese lands.

A symbol of the town of Sobradillo, the tower was built in the 15th century and was part of the network of defensive fortifications and castles that made it possible to monitor and secure the border against Portuguese attacks. This particular tower belonged to the fortification of the castle of San Felices de los Gallegos.

The province of Salamanca is well known for being Vetón territory since it has two of the most important deposits in the area, Yecla la Vieja and Las Merchanas. The sites dating back to pre-Roman times up to the most recent ones related to the culture of the castros and boars are known as Vetón territory. It has been studied that the occupation of these territories dates back to the Iron Age 500 years ago and even much earlier up to the 5th century in the case of this particular site of Las Merchanas. In the golden age of these territories, these settlements were mainly populated by shepherds and warriors who, according to various Roman writers, were known as "vetones".

One of the many panoramic points that the Arribes del Duero Natural Park offers us. From here the best views are to the west once the Duero River leaves behind the Saucelle dam.