From the Sierra de Béjar to the Ambroz Valley and the Vía de la Plata June 1 and 2

Like last year, we have joined the initiative of Adventure Cycling Association and we have recorded our route in the 'Bike travel weekend'. Last year there were more than 900 routes and 8.000 registered bike travelers!! In 1884, a railway began to be built between Plasencia and Béjar, it was part of a strategic line between Palazuelo, the connection with Madrid-Cáceres and Astorga. Between the years 1893 and 1896, exploitation of the route began and on June 21 the official inauguration of the Line took place. The local press reported on the event, "...a very long train of 100 meters..." fFormed by several passenger cars, a special car for the authorities and two sleeping cars, it departs at 18:20 p.m. from the Plasencia Station, dragging the two Locomotive composition. Also traveling were personalities of the time who had arrived on another train from Cáceres. A campaign Mass was celebrated at the Salamanca Station, presided over by the Bishop of Salamanca and assisted by the Bishop of Zamora. They blessed the Line and continued the march towards Astorga", we have found the passage on the website of the Zamoran Railway Association.

That line, which was the North-South railway communication in the west of the Peninsula, received bad news in the month of October 1984. The Council of Ministers decided to close several Lines for being "deficient" and to suppress the passenger service of the Silver Route, between Plasencia and Astorga. The suppression has been effective since January 1, 1985. There have been more than 30 years of abandonment, of oblivion by the administrations, but not by the local population who have always claimed the need for this living railway.

However, this year 2019, this railway route is gaining new life, in the form of the recovery as a Natural Trail of the Vía Verde de la Plata by the program nature trails of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. A section has already been launched in the Salamanca area of ​​Alba de Tormes and we have chosen the new section between Béjar and Hervás to enjoy one of the areas of Spain that we like the most, those foothills of Gredos between Salamanca and Extremadura, a crossroads of roads that have always been one of the natural passages between the plateau and the Tagus valley, between Castilla and Extremadura. It was for the Roman road and today it is also for the euroveil 1. An itinerary to enjoy the Ambroz Valley, in the shadow of those mountains that give shade and humidity to its fantastic forests and beautiful towns.

We propose a weekend cycling through the Green Way from Béjar to Hervás to then launch ourselves into the bottom of the valley to connect with the Vía de la Plata and reach the Roman city of caparra.

The new itinerary makes this fertile landscape accessible to a very wide public thanks to its gentle layout. To rest and regain strength, on Saturday we will spend the night in Hervás. If you don't know this town, just to come and see it, it is worth the weekend.

PROGRAM

RESERVATIONS - TRANSFER

• • • • Reserve a place €50
      • TRIODOS BANK (Ethical Banking): ES98 1491 0001 24 2007114628
      • OWNER: Hualapai Travel SL.
      • CONCEPT: Route and participant name.

     

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