🎵 Audio guide
Villanueva de la Sierra is rightly proud of its Tree Fair which was designated a Cultural Heritage Asset on the 10th of July 2017. It was awarded this recognition for its ancient origins and the length of time it has been celebrated.
Since 1805 it has been celebrated annually, practically without fail. Its origin is linked to the Árboles de la Libertad (Freedom Trees) and it is the first festival or fair in the world to have focused on caring for and learning about the environment. This celebration has become part of the fabric of Villanueva de la Sierra, forming an important part of its history and culture. The fact that it has continued almost uninterrupted for more than two centuries is testament to the effort of the residents of Villanueva. It continues to this day, playing a fundamental role in the cultural heritage of the village and it is an inspiration to Extremadura, Spain and the rest of the world.
The origin of this celebration can be traced back to the 26th of February in 1805. Villanueva had suffered several forest fires and on this Carnival Tuesday the village priest, Ramón Vacas, with the support of Pedro Barquero and Andrés Hernández, the mayors of the village, organised the planting of poplar trees in the Ejido and Fuente de la Mora areas. Many dignitaries and all the residents of the village were invited to watch the schoolchildren plant trees, accompanied by a festive atmosphere and a three-day-long celebration.
On the 24th October 1805, the front page of the agriculture and art church newspaper opened with a beautiful article by the distinguished botanist Francisco Antonio Fernández. This broke the news that for the first time in the world an event had been celebrated in honour of a tree, having taken place in a small village, Villanueva de la Sierra.
Year after year, all kinds of environmental and cultural activities take place in Villanueva and the Sierra de Gata region in celebration of the Fiesta del Árbol. There is, of course, tree planting, leisure activities and a celebration of coexistence which, nowadays includes an historical re-enactment. More than twenty people dress in period costumes and enact various scenes from that now famous month in 1805.
The Fiesta del Árbol is, now more than ever, a wake-up call to our consciences and while nowadays even important political leaders are concerning themselves with the environment, this small village and its inhabitants have been doing so for more than 200 years with humility and pride.
The Fiesta del Árbol – a celebration to discover, to feel and to live.
