Hervás Castle

Anyone who climbs to the highest part of Hervás will discover that the village castle is not quite what they might expect. Its remains are bound up with the Church of Santa María de Aguas Vivas, built on the foundations of the old fortress, which is why many people refer to both by the same name. Church and castle thus share a common history and the same privileged spot above the village.

The origins of this defensive structure date back to the 13th century. Its location follows an obvious logic: to occupy the highest point in the village, from which to keep watch over the surrounding area. That same position is what makes the visit a small reward for travellers today, who reach the top after making their way up the village's steep streets.

The landscape plays its part. Hervás lies in the north of the province of Cáceres, in the foothills of the Sierra de Gredos, and from up here you can clearly appreciate the relationship between the village and the mountains that surround it. It is well worth pausing for a while to take in the whole scene before starting the descent.

Rather than a conventional castle, what visitors will find here is the imprint of a medieval fortress transformed into a church, a fine example of how buildings are reused and change function over the centuries. An essential stop for understanding the origins of Hervás and enjoying its finest views.