Hiking in the Las Batuecas - Sierra de Francia Natural Park

The Sierra de Francia is a mountain range in the south of the province of Salamanca in the region of Castile and León, bordering the region of Extremadura. The mountain range is an offshoot of the Central System. The highest point is the Pico de La Hastiala (1735m), but the most prominent is the Peña de Francia (1727m) which can be seen from a great distance from different directions. At the top is a huge sanctuary dedicated to the Black Virgin Mary, a television tower and a lookout point. In addition to the mountain range, the natural park also includes the valley of the river Las Batuecas on the south side of the area. The lower parts are wooded, mostly chestnut and oak forests. The area includes a large number of villages. Interesting for its well-preserved traditional culture and architecture are Mogarraz, San Martín del Castañar, Sequeros, Monleón, Miranda del Castañar and La Alberca.