Protected areas
The natural treasures of the Sierra Norte of Guadalajara
You will find diverse landscapes with fauna and flora specific to each corner, small villages sparsely populated and very scattered, rivers, forests, lakes ... endless treasures to savor nature.
In the Sierra Norte de Guadalajara we find three particularly valuable natural areas that were included in the Regional Network of Protected Areas prior to the declaration of the Natural Park:
- The Tejera Negra Beech Forest included in the UNESCO World Heritage in 2017.
- The pine forests and peat bogs of the Pelagallinas River (declared a Fluvial Reserve in 2003).
- The Pico del Lobo-Cebollera Massif (declared a Nature Reserve in 2005).
In 2011, with the declaration of the Sierra Norte de Guadalajara Natural Park, these spaces were integrated into it as Special Protection Areas of the Park.
Finally, in 2020 this protected natural area was included in the Natura 2000 Network under the name of ZEC Zepa Sierra de Ayllón.
The Special Protection Zones of the Natural Park
In the Sierra Norte de Guadalajara we find three particularly valuable natural spaces that were included in the Regional Network of Protected Areas prior to the declaration of the Natural Park: the Tejera Negra Beech Forest (included in the World Heritage by UNESCO in 2017), the Pico del Lobo-Cebollera Massif (declared a Natural Reserve in 2005) and the pine forests and peatlands of the Pelagallinas River (declared a River Reserve in 2003). In 2011, with the declaration of the Sierra Norte de Guadalajara Natural Park, these areas were integrated as Special Protection Areas of the Park.
The Tejera Negra Beech Forest, in the municipality of Cantalojas, is one of the pioneer protected natural areas in Castilla-La Mancha. It was declared a Natural Site of National Interest in 1974, a Natural Park in 1978 and a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 2017, to protect this botanical treasure that has survived to our times, being one of the southernmost beech forests in Europe. Beech forests with birch, yew and holly trees, are typical of more northern latitudes, but here they are the witness of colder past times: after the retreat of the glaciers, the beeches found refuge in places like Tejera Negra, with a special microclimate, reaching our days as relict forests.
Please note that access to the beech forest is limited and is subject to a fee. You can reserve your entrance on the site's website or ask the lodging or ecotourism company you have booked your activity with for last minute reservations.
The Pico del Lobo-Cebollera Massif occupies the northwestern sector of the Natural Park, in a territory of more than 10,000 hectares in the municipality of El Cardoso de la Sierra. Here are the three highest peaks of Castilla-La Mancha: Pico del Lobo (2,273 m), El Cerrón (2,199 m) and Peña Cebollera Vieja or Pico Tres Provincias (2,129 m). In this mountainous landscape, which harbors the remains of glacial formations, there are unique and fragile habitats, such as grasslands, scrublands and high mountain peat bogs, which constitute a living laboratory for the study of the effects of climate change.
The Pelagallinas River runs along the northern slope of the Sierra de Alto Rey, in the municipalities of Prádena de Atienza and Condemios de Arriba (Aldeanueva de Atienza). Among its environmental values are its population of common trout, of high genetic purity, and the natural pine forests, peat bogs and waterlogged meadows on the banks of the river, which make up a place of great environmental value.
The Pelagallinas River flows along the northern slope of the Sierra de Alto Rey, in the municipalities of Prádena de Atienza and Condemios de Arriba (Aldeanueva de Atienza). Among its environmental values are its population of common trout, of high genetic purity, and the natural pine forests, peat bogs and waterlogged meadows on the banks of the river, which make up a place of great environmental value.
The ZEC and ZEPA Sierra de Ayllón
The Sierra de Ayllón is the eastern end of the Central System. It is formed mostly by siliceous massifs dominated by slate, quartzite and gneiss. To the important geodiversity of the area must be added its great landscape value, as it includes mountain landscapes unique in Castilla-La Mancha due to their exceptional characteristics and high naturalness.
The area is of exceptional botanical importance, as it is home to a large number of species and communities that are practically unique on a regional scale. The great climatic variety found in this territory allows the existence of very diverse natural formations, with the presence of beech forests (the southernmost in the Iberian Peninsula), yew groves, oak groves, holm oak groves, Scots pine forests, juniper groves, enclaves with sagebrush, etc.
Also of great value are the riparian forest formations associated with the river courses, with the presence ofstands of birch, alder, ash, willow and poplar poplar groves. Among the scrublands, the most widespread formation due to the effects of ancestral human management (grazing and firewood cutting), we can highlight the high mountain scrublands, heaths, broom groves, broom groves, thorny cushion scrub, etc. Also noteworthy are the high mountain pastures, the rocky vegetation formations associated with quartzite crests, as well as the presence of acid peat bogs that are home to a large number of protected flora species.
This area is also of great faunistic importance, with the presence of rupicolous birds of prey (Bonelli's eagle, golden eagle, peregrine falcon, etc.), forest birds of prey (short-toed eagle, goshawk, honey buzzard, sparrow hawk, etc.), or numerous species of birds that occupy diverse habitats such as the gray nightjar, king thrush, kingfisher, dipper, blue-breasted grosbeak, red-breasted rock thrush, wryneck, among many other species. In the group of mammals, forest mammals and cave bats stand out, as well as reptiles, fish and invertebrates of great interest.
Municipalities in which the ZEC-ZEPA area is located: Albendiego, Arbancón, Bustares, Campillo de Ranas, Cantalojas, El Cardoso de la Sierra, Cogolludo, Condemios de Abajo, Condemios de Arriba, Galve de Sorbe, Gascueña de Bornova, Hiendelaencina, La Huerce, Majaelrayo, Miedes de Atienza, La Mierla, La Miñosa, Navas de Jadraque, El Ordial, Prádena de Atienza, Puebla de Valles, Retiendas, Semillas, Tamajón, La Toba, Tortuero, Ujados, Valdepeñas de la Sierra, Valdesotos, Valverde de los Arroyos, Villares de Jadraque, Zarzuela de Jadraque (Guadalajara)
This Natura 2000 network site includes two protected natural areas: the Sierra Norte de Guadalajara Natural Park and the Pelagallinas River Fluvial Reserve.