Route code
PRC-VA 36
Journey
Circular
Way
  • On foot (2 h.)
Length
9.1 kms.
Ascent slope
88 m.
Descent slope
88 m.
Difficulty of the route
Low
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Flat and easy path that runs north of the town of Foncastín. The route goes down the valley of the Zapardiel River to go to the Pinar de Valdegalindo, located on a river terrace with pines, gall oaks and holm oaks, among which a unique formation of cork oaks of high natural interest appears.

We begin the tour in the unique town of Foncastín, a colonization town that emerged in the 1940s and occupied by settlers from the Leonese town of Oliegos, who were forced to abandon their homes due to the construction of the Villameca reservoir. , in the region of La Cepeda. With a characteristic architecture, this white-toned town with an arcaded plaza, designed and planned by the National Institute of Colonization, constitutes a place of interest within the province of Valladolid.

The trail starts from a small park located on Cuesta Street, where the information panel is located. From this point we descend towards the Zapardiel River along Vega Street. Following the Zapardiel stream on its right bank for 1.3 km, we begin a brief and gentle ascent along the edge of a river terrace. Soon some directional arrows direct us towards the interior of Mount Valdegalindo.

We reach the flat surface of the river terrace. A brief detour along the path takes us to a forestry hut from which we can enjoy the view of the Zapardiel River valley and the Duero plain. We enter the area of ​​greatest interest on the trail, a mixed forest formation of pines, gall oaks and holm oaks with a very significant presence of cork oaks ( Quercus suber ), a very rare species in the province of Valladolid, where it only appears dispersed in various locations and that in the Foncastín pasture reach greater development.

Although there may have been some isolated specimens of natural origin, linked to the cork oak populations of Salamanca and Zamora, some studies suggest that their current number and disposition owes much to human action, which favored the formation of a cork oak pasture for the use of cork from its bark. On our tour we can easily see the totally or partially uncorked bark. In any case, we are facing a space of great biogeographic and landscape value.

The path takes a circular route through this mountain, passing through the remains of an old sawmill, the so-called Sierra de Valdegalindo, and then heading south, returning among vineyards to the town of Foncastín.

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    Address and map location

    • Postal address Foncastín (Rueda). Valladolid
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