Spain is a wonderful country, with a rich and complex culture and history that deserves to be discovered. Barcelona, the most Francophile city, and Madrid spring to mind, but there are countless other city treasures.
So it was with a thirst for discovery that we recently set off to discover five Unesco World Heritage cities in Castilla y León, in collaboration with the national (state-owned) Paradores hotel chain.
Segovia
After landing in Madrid and a two-hour journey. We begin our journey in the beautiful city of Segovia.
True to its reputation as a land of gastronomy, we begin our stay with a Castilian institution , MESON DE CANDIDO. It perpetuates a centuries-old tradition of cuisine and tradition, in particular that of the suckling pig cut with the sharp side of the plate. But before the suckling pig can be tasted, it has to undergo a whole ceremony, with the master of ceremonies donning his finest ceremonial garb.
Segovia, whose old town and Roman aqueduct have been declared a World Heritage Site, rises on a hill between the Eresma and Clamores rivers. In addition to its famous aqueduct, Segovia boasts numerous Romanesque churches, a cathedral and an alcazar, giving it a majestic silhouette overlooking the Castilian countryside.
http://www.turismodesegovia.com/
After this beautiful digestive stroll, it’s time to discover our hotel: the Parador de Segovia.
Modern, welcoming and surprising. The views from the hotel’s rooms, restaurant and outdoor pool are magnificent. You can contemplate the entire old town and watch over the city walls. There’s a gymnasium, an air-conditioned and an open-air swimming pool, a tennis court and a sauna. There’s also a convention center with several well-conditioned rooms for meetings and congresses.
PARADOR DE SEGOVIE****
carrétéra dé Valladolid, s/n 40003 Ségovia Ségovia +34 921443737
+34 921437362
ségovia@parador.és
http://www.parador.es/fr/paradores/parador-de-segovia
Salamanca
One of Spain’s university towns par excellence, Salamanca (Castilla y León) is the perfect place to spend a memorable day. Take a stroll through the streets, discovering unique monuments such as the cathedrals and the university, and enjoy a coffee in the superb Plaza Mayor… What a discovery! Get lost in the old town, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
After a gastronomic break in the plaza mayor at the Asados Mauro restaurant, a local institution.
We’re off to discover Salamanca. It’s a city with immediate charm, a pleasant way of life and sumptuous views. It’s hard to choose between the Plaza Mayor, the University, the Patio de Escuelas, the Cielo de Salamanca, the Cathedrals: the new and the old, Ierónimus and the beautiful medieval Cathedral Towers that dominate the whole city.
In the evening, we discovered a good address: Doze, just a stone’s throw from the plaza mayor, with its modern, no-holds-barred gastronomy.
The Parador de Salamanca, with its modern architecture, also offers a breathtaking view of the city.
Day 3, we head for the pious city of Avila. Just as a chest guards a treasure, the walls of Avila house a magnificent historical heritage of churches, convents and Renaissance palaces.
One of these jewels is undoubtedly the Piedras Albas Palace, PARADOR DE ÁVILA, which, set against the world’s best-preserved city wall, puts you close to the city’s most beautiful sights. Its intimate, welcoming interior, spacious rooms perfect for relaxing, and dining room overlooking the garden and wall through a glassed-in patio make this Parador a majestic place, in keeping with many of the city’s World Cultural Heritage buildings. You’ll be delighted to stroll along the wall’s parapet walk and lose yourself in the streets of its historic quarter, filled with charm in every street, square and corner.
ÁVILA, declared a World Heritage Site in 1985. Ávila stands at the foot of the Sierra de Gredos mountains. Behind the ramparts of this provincial capital in the Castilla-León region, lies a precious collection of Renaissance churches and palaces that bear witness to the bygone splendor of a former textile production center. As the birthplace of Saint Teresa, the entire city, both inside and outside its walls, is home to an infinite number of religious buildings associated with the life of the mystic. The European Commission has also awarded it the 2010 Accessible City Award. The province also boasts a wealth of culinary specialties, including delicious roasts and the famous chuletón (prime rib), as well as pastries, proudly represented by the famous yemas de Santa Teresa.
We had lunch in a very pleasant restaurant LA BRUJA
Last stop on the way to Madrid: Alcala de Henares
This city in the Autonomous Community of Madrid, birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes, author of “El Quijote” and home to one of Spain’s most prestigious universities, has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Its rich monumental heritage of churches, convent buildings and university outbuildings brings to life Castilian life during Spain’s Golden Age. In the old town, you’ll also find the Hostería del Estudiante, now a parador. With its four-hundred-year-old walls, it’s the ideal place to sample the best of local gastronomy.
The Parador de Alcala de Henares is a marvel of design and modernism, while retaining a beautiful old part.
A quick trip to Madrid to see an exhibition dedicated to the artworks of the Paradores is a must. In fact, in addition to being historic monuments in their own right, many of the paradores are decorated with renowned works of art, which have been exhibited at the MAPFRE Foundation in Madrid.
OFFICE ESPAGNOL DU TOURISME A PARIS
Tel : 01.45.03.82.50
http://www.spain.info/fr
PARADORES
www.parador.es
HERITAGE TOWNS
http://www.ciudadespatrimonio.org/
CASTILLA Y LEÓN REGION
http://www.turismocastillayleon.com/
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