🎵 Audio guide
Between the Sierra de los Canchos and the Sierra de Santa Catalina there is an area known as the Dehesa Boyal de Mirabel, a mix of common land and privately owned land consisting of lightly forested grassland used predominantly for grazing cattle. This Mediterranean forest, which is still used in the traditional way, forms part of the Monfragüe Biosphere Reserve. There are many large trees in this area but two which stand out are the centuries-old cork oaks named “Padre Santo” (Holy Father) and “Alcornoque Grueso” (Stocky Cork Oak) which have been recognised and listed as uniquely important trees by the regional government of Extremadura.
The listed trees trail, SL-CC 11,which overlaps the PR-CC 66 trail, starts one and a half kilometres from the village at the dehesa access gate. The trail passes through woods, crosses a stone wall and continues straight until we reach “Padre Santo”.
The cork oak tree (Quercus Suber), Padre Santo, was included in the list of uniquely important trees of Extremadura on the 29th April, 2014. It was named for the fact that it is the largest cork oak in the DehesaBoyal. Taking advantage of its fairly isolated position in a small clearing, it has grown enormous and its girth and spread are such that it can truly be considered a monumental tree.
It is an awe-inspiring sight, with impressive statistics – it is 20m high, with a spread of 27m and is an estimated 350 years old. Yet, to be in the presence of its harmonious form is to feel the peace of its embrace in spectacular surroundings under the ever-watchful gaze of Mirabel’s castle.
The cork oak (Quercus Suber) “Grueso” was included in the list of uniquely important trees of Extremadura on the 15th March, 2016. Standing at the beginning of a small rise along with other large cork oaks, its spectacular dimensions led to its inclusion on the list of protected trees.
Although this tree’s statistics are impressive, it still surprises us with its magnitude when we come face to face with it. It is 16.5m high and has a spread of 22.5m in diameter. With an estimated age of 350 years its trunk bears the marks of the centuries and various suckers disrupt the harmony of its crown.
We retrace our steps until we have once again passed the farm buildings, this time on our left, where we turn 90° to climb a small hill which takes us to a natural viewpoint with marvellous views of the surrounding area. Continuing past a wall, we shortly return to the starting point of the trail.
We retrace our steps until we have once again passed the farm buildings, this time on our left, where we turn 90┬░ to climb a small hill which takes us to a natural viewpoint with marvellous views of the surrounding area. Continuing past a wall, we shortly return to the starting point of the trail.