The best MTB trails around La Encina

The Alcázar Gate in Ciudad Rodrigo is one of the historic entrances to the city walls and has great heritage and scenic value. It was opened in 1507 by Antonio del Águila, warden of the Alcázar, when he built the defensive barrier in that area. It is located next to the Castle of Henry II of Trastámara, in the section of the wall facing the Águeda River, known as the Battery, due to the cannons that were once installed there.

It's well worth a visit: it combines history, architecture, and excellent cuisine. It's a beautifully preserved walled city with cobblestone streets and a charming old town. Perfect for exploring on foot in one day, although if you want to enjoy it at a more leisurely pace and explore the surrounding area, two days are ideal.

Ciudad Rodrigo is one of the most beautiful towns in Spain, located in the province of Salamanca, very close to the Portuguese border. Declared a Historic-Artistic Site in 1944, it stands out for its impressive heritage, its history linked to battles between Castile and Portugal, and its welcoming atmosphere. It's ideal for a cultural and gastronomic getaway.

The Plaza Mayor of Ciudad Rodrigo is the historical and social heart of the city, with a rich history that reflects its importance as an urban center: Since the Middle Ages, the Plaza Mayor has been the hub of public life: markets, proclamations, and council meetings were held there in the cloister of the former Church of San Juan. In the 16th century, public butcher shops were built, and it became a consolidated space for commercial and festive activities. Until then, the square was home to the Three Roman Columns, a vestige of the ancient Miróbriga, which had been a symbol of the city since the 13th century. In 1580, the square was expanded, incorporating the space that once housed the old prison and the Audiencia (Courthouse). It even had corridors for watching bullfights, a tradition that continues during carnivals.

Ciudad Rodrigo's Town Hall is located in the Plaza Mayor and is one of the city's most emblematic buildings. Its history is linked to the urban and political development of Ciudad Rodrigo since the Middle Ages. Medieval Origins: Ciudad Rodrigo was founded in Roman times, but its consolidation as a fortified urban center occurred in the Middle Ages. Municipal government was organized around the council, which initially met in council houses until the current building was built.

The Puerta del Alcázar is one of the ancient access gates to the walled enclosure of Ciudad Rodrigo. This gate, along with others such as the Puerta del Sol and the Puerta de Santiago, was part of the city's defensive system.

High point bordering the Hurdes and the Sierra de Francia. If you continue along the ridge you will reach the Puerto de Esperabán. At the top there is a forest hut and incredible views. Recommended for mountain bikes, a bit more difficult for gravel due to the stones, incline and broken ground, but it could be done with gravel. A very hard port from the Castile and Leon side.

The port starts in Descargamaría, on the bridge over the Arrago River, heading towards Robledillo de Gata. The road is in perfect condition up to this beautiful town, but from here on the road surface is quite deteriorated and the width of the road decreases, but, yes, we gain in beauty, since we enter a beautiful area, leaving Robledillo on the left we will be surrounded by chestnut trees, pines, oaks, olive trees, rockroses, etc. A delight for the senses to travel along this little road without hardly finding a car. As for difficulty, as we said before, it exceeds 100 coefficient, which is a lot, a lot, but the climb is bearable. We will find two very hard kilometers, which are the ones that will basically mark that coefficient, at the exit of Robledillo, a full kilometer above 8% and a couple of kilometers higher, another kilometer above 7%. From there, the difficulty level remains around 4 or 5 percent, but alternating with several downhill or flat sections, which lowers the percentage.