4-star Hotel / Parador

The delightful and special, little town of Hervás, situated in the north of the province of Cäceres in Extremadura, nestles in the beautiful Valle de Ambroz with Monte Pinajarro as a backdrop. With its own micro-climate with mild temperatures throughout the year it is in an area of extreme natural beauty with chestnut, oak and pine trees,
cherry orchards, the Rio Ambroz and the many gorges and streams including the 17km Garganta de Los Infiernos, making it a nature lovers' and walkers' paradise.

Hervás, dating back to the 7th century, has one of the best preserved "aljamas" (Jewish quarters) in Spain, a ruined Templar castle, a 13th century church, The 17th century convent of Los Padres Trinitarios which is now a hotel "Hospedería Valle de Ambroz" and a Baroque palace, now the Pérez Comendador art museum. There is also an impressive Classic car and motorbike museum and a wonderful park "El jardín histórico" with over sixty different species of trees and shrubs.

To add to the list, there's an arts cinema cum theatre, a sports centre, supermarkets and shops, a leather factory and furniture workshops where the local chestnut wood is used.

There are a good range of restaurants and bars, some serving dishes from ancient Jewish recipes, others with a great selection of tapas and raciónes. Occasional musical events featuring jazz, salsa and classical take place at these.

Hervas is a lively and friendly place and fiestas figure largely on the calendar, the main ones being San Anton on the 17th January, Semana Santa, the main fiestas in mid August and Fiestas del Cristo de la Saud in mid September. And in the Autumn at the weekends in October and November the "Festival Otoño Mágico en el Valle de Ambroz" where all sorts of events take place.

• Wander around Hervás visiting its monuments and museums and its fascinating Jewish quarter.
• Visit nearby Granadilla , an abandoned, but completely walled village with a turreted castle and a pretty square in a beautiful setting encircled by the Gabriel and Galán reservoir.
• Visit the world's smallest monastery San Pedro de Alcántara at El Palancar.
• Go to the city of Plasencia " the city of pleasure" with its striking Platesque cathedral ( really two cathedrals in one), its arcaded Plaza Mayor and its lovely Old Quarter and its bars (over 50!) where they serve delicious tapas and the local wine "pitarra". Best on a Tuesday where the market that has taken place since the C12th century keeps it rural charm.
• Visit Baños de Montemayor just north of Hervás for its spa, Roman baths and its basketware and interpretation centre of La Ruta de la Plata.
• Take a spectacular drive over the Puerto de Honduras (35 km) to Valle del Jerte where the cherry blossom in the spring is an amazing "second snow". Continue on this journey to visit the Monastery at Yuste where gout ridden Charles V retired to spend his last days and el Valle de la Vera, famed for its red peppers, which paprika, pimentón de la Vera, is made.
• Sail or swim (in the summer) at the nearby reservoir of Gabriel y Galán.
• Explore Las Hurdes, at one time one of Spain's poorest regions " la tierra sin pan" – the land without bread – featured in one of Luis Buñuel's films. Now much improved, but wild boar are still a nuisance trampling kitchen gardens!
• Horse-riding, mountain biking or canoeing.There are outdoor activity companies in Hervás that organise these.
• Walking in the Valle de Ambroz
• 1Enjoy the local gastronomy – the excellent jamón iberico and other cured pork products, wild mushrooms, lamb and goat stews, roasted meats including suckling pig, cherries and chestnuts and delicious pastries and cakes.