Nature and avant-garde art
Lagoons, native fauna, archaeological remains and, in general, a good place for nature lovers that contrasts with the futuristic sculptures a la Mad Max and the conceptual museum of Wolf Vostell . If we add to this that some of the scenes from the new season of Game of Thrones were filmed there, we no longer have an excuse not to go.
A good place for nature lovers
To get there from the city of Cáceres by car, just take the N-521 and go straight on to the town of Malpartida de Cáceres. Once there, we cross the town center following the indications and soon the greenery and the granite stones will indicate that we have arrived. It is 16 kilometers away, but the continuous roundabouts and speed restrictions will make it take us longer about 25 minutes. By bicycle the path would be practically the same and it would take three quarters of an hour, so it is a more than affordable route if we prefer to pedal.
There are several car parks throughout Los Barruecos. We chose to park in the one that is arranged next to the Interpretation Center , which we will look at later. First of all, we go along the path that comes out as we have entered to the left towards the museum. As soon as we crossed the fence set up for cattle, we ran into a dozen donkeys, sheltered from the sun in a gate prepared for this purpose. They must be used to being fed by visitors, since it is more than likely that one of them will go after us to see if something falls into their mouths.
They will welcome you
After crossing the archaeological remains of the old wool laundry, we will immediately see the gates of the Vostell Malpartida Museum , which opens every day in the morning and afternoon except on Sundays (which closes at 2:30 p.m.) and Mondays (which closes all day). It was founded in 1976 by Wolf Vostell, peculiar German artist based in Extremadura who managed to put Malpartida on the map thanks to his groundbreaking and avant-garde style, and offers visitors three collections of contemporary art: Wolf and Mercedes Vostell Collection, Fluxus Collection-Gino Di Maggio Gift and Conceptual Artists Collection.
Bordering the museum enclosure we will find the cafeteria at the back, where we must have previously booked if we want to account for its appetizing menu at one of the tables in his small living room. Otherwise, we will have to settle for having a drink on its terrace, although admiring the statue of Vostell. Why did the process between Pilate and Jesus last only two minutes?, with an aspect as impossible as its title: a tower created with the remains of cars and planes and finished off with several stork nests.
Why did the process between Pilate and Jesus last only two minutes?
Back to the laundromat we will see It is the dam that retains the Charca del Barrueco de Abajo, in whose waters the famous tench live s, fish coveted by fishermen and common in local cuisine.
From there, as from any point in reality, we can start our particular route through the area, and that is the beauty of this site is to get lost and let yourself be carried away by instinct . It will not be difficult to find the Charca del Barrueco de Arriba, the prehistoric site of Peñas del Tesoro or the other two 'environmental' statues that Vostell integrated between the rocks: V.O.A.E.X. Trip of (H) ormigón through Alta Extremadura (1976), with which the activity of the Museum began; and The Thirsty Dead Man (1978). All dominated by the nests of storks, proudly perched on the elongated poles set up for this purpose, and the huge granite stones, so prized by fans of bouldering, a type of climbing, that everyone who takes their mat to the back.
'V.O.A.E.X. Trip of (H) ormigón through Alta Extremadura'
Going back to the car we have the Los Barruecos Interpretation Center which, in turn, is divided into three buildings: Visitor Reception Center-Centro de la Cigüeña , the white building next to the car park, specializing in the bird in question; Natural Monument Interpretation Center , where through models, panels, interactive showcases and reproductions, the origin of the rock formations that make up the landscape of the area is shown; and the Water Interpretation Center , opened in the old flour mill, where the installation's own machinery is exhibited together with an exhibition on the uses and needs of the liquid element. We will also find a pleasant covered picnic area where we can eat the sandwich and a nice walk through its small botanical garden. All on the shores of the small lagoon that the Arroyo del Tocón It is next to the old mill (La charca del molinillo), where we can also make use of its bird observatory.
This unique place was one of those chosen to film the seventh season of Game of Thrones. Production established its base of operations last November in Cáceres capital and, from there, they moved a few days to the town of Trujillo and Los Barruecos, where if we pay attention to the rumours, to the actors that could be seen (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau -Jaime 'Matarreyes' Lannister- and Jerome Flynn -Bronn-) and the type of scenes (with hundreds of extras, horses and chariots), it looks like a brutal battle will be fought between Dothraki, Unsullied and Lannisters. We will have to be attentive to the new chapters and, meanwhile, enjoy a nice day in this unlikely compendium of nature and modernity.
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The stork, owner and lady of the place