SIBERIA BIOSPHERE RESERVE
Extremadura's Siberia, a cultural hive woven through the landscape
A journey into the unknown
Located in the extreme northeast of the province of Badajoz, in the foothills of the Montes de Toledo, it treasures reasons to fill the visitor with quietness and delight. Its vast territory delights in the hodgepodge of landscapes; from the vast plains of the south to the Mediterranean forests of the north, slopes clothed with ancient olive groves pampered by tradition and meandering water paths.
There where the Guadiana widens with overflowing fullness between overwhelming cliffs. La Siberia stands as a paradise for nature lovers, and especially for those passionate about ornithology, being many birds that find, in the variety of enclaves that make it up, a refuge for nesting and resting. Its cultural identity is palpable in the small villages, where the gastronomic tradition reveals a spectacular raw material and where heritage remains of exceptional value emerge. Discover the largest inland freshwater coast of Spain and immerse yourself in a wild region.
The Siberia Biosphere Reserve occupies the northeastern corner of the province of Badajoz, in the Autonomous Community of Extremadura, bordering the provinces of Cáceres, Toledo and Ciudad Real. A vast territory in which the immensity of the landscapes overwhelms and the hospitality of its people embraces the visitor, who discovers moved, in the interior of the peninsula, a sea of fresh water. A destination that has shielded its nature and raises silence and honesty as resources of inestimable value.
Origin of the Reserve
Designated by UNESCO in 2019, La Siberia manifests an impressive fusion of landscapes:mountain ranges crowned by quartzite rocks, covered on their slopes by forests and Mediterranean scrub, pine forests in northern and central areas, dehesas in valleys and plateaus, pseudo-steppe and cereal plains in the south, urban environment in the population centers and extensive bodies of water in reservoirs, ponds, ponds and reservoirs, and extensive bodies of water in the reservoirs.The region has a rich and cereal-producing plains in the south, an urban environment in the population centers and extensive bodies of water in reservoirs, ponds, rivers and streams of the Guadiana Basin, which make this region the one with the largest inland coastline in the country.
Outstanding nature
The variety of landscapes translates into a wide availability of habitats for flora and fauna. The diversity of birds is especially significant, with the presence of true jewels of the peninsula, such as the black stork, the black vulture, the golden eagle, the Iberian imperial eagle, or the elusive steppe birds, such as the sThe massive arrival of cranes has revolutionized the area, with the arrival of the most common birds, such as the black stork, the black vulture, the golden eagle, the Iberian imperial eagle, or the depauperate and elusive steppe birds, such as the little bustard, the great bustard or the sandgrouse, which find refuge in the southern plains. The massive arrival of cranes revolutionizes the winter panorama and turns La Siberia into an unavoidable ornithological destination. They are accompanied by unique botanical species, as well as dozens of mammals, amphibians, reptiles and fish. Such richness has been recognized by the Natura 2000 Network, which has established in the territory 4 Special Protection Areas for Birds (SPA) and 7 Special Conservation Areas (SCA), which coexist with 2 regional protected areas and 1 wetland of international importance RAMSAR.
Overwhelming heritage
Eleven municipalities keep the cultural essence of this land: Castilblanco, Fuenlabrada de los Montes, Garbayuela, Helechosa de los Montes, Herrera del Duque, Puebla de Alcocer, Risco, Sancti-Spíritus, Tamurejo, Valdecaballeros and Villarta de los Montes. Prehistoric paintings and dolmens, forts, necropolis, castles, medieval bridges, Mudejar churches and hermitages, etc. Livestock fairs and transhumance reveal a dazzling legacy of immaterial tradition, as do various festivities, which bring to the streets emblematic allegorical figures, such as the diablucos of Helechosa de los Montes, or ancestral dances, such as those of San Antón or San Blas.
Sincere gastronomy
The traditional dishes of La Siberia put on the table the quality of their raw materials, such as lamb, honey, cheese or oil. All of them are based on a sustainable production model that respects the traditional agricultural and livestock techniques, thus favoring the economic development of the territory, fixing population and ensuring the conservation of the natural heritage.
Discover its wide range of ecotourism offerings
Good weather conditions throughout the year and low light pollution make La Siberia an ideal place for observing the night sky.
Its geology does not go unnoticed either; you can discover the Apalachense relief through the Herrera del Duque syncline, or the Castilblanco and Bohonal de los Montes rañas, as well as the impressive Helechosa de los Montes cruzianas.s of the impressive cruzianas of Helechosa de los Montes or the paleontological site of Membrillar, in Villarta de los Montes, as well as the unusual peat bogs. Up to two royal cattle trails cross La Siberia, the Eastern Leonesa and the Segoviana, which are still crossed by transhumant cattle, and which today offer an unequaled path for the hiker, in addition to more than 30 hiking and MTB routes of varying difficulty and distance.
The rivers and reservoirs attract many fishing and boating enthusiasts, and the Cíjara Regional Reserve is a constant home to important herds of fallow deer, deer and wild boar. There are also numerous companies that offer bird watching activities, without forgetting ecotourism experiences that bring nature closer to the palate, such as ethnobotanical routes, or those that offer the possibility of learning about the traditional process of honey production in first person, and that allow the curious visitor to feel like a beekeeper for a day .