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Park · Cáceres, Extremadura
Monumento Natural Los Barruecos
Landscape of large rounded granite rocks, lagoons and stork nests 15 km from Cáceres, in Malpartida, with the Vostell Museum in a former wool washhouse.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Monumento Natural Los Barruecos
Los Barruecos is a natural monument in the municipality of Malpartida de Cáceres, about 15 km from the city. The landscape is formed by large granite blocks rounded by erosion, called bolos, which stack in varied shapes among pastures, holm oaks and small reservoirs.
On top of the rocks, white storks build dozens of nests, and the area is one of the places in Europe with the highest concentration of stork nests in a small space. Spring is the season of greatest bird activity. There are also cave paintings and engravings and remains of prehistoric settlements.
Next to one of the lagoons is the Vostell Malpartida Museum, founded in 1976 by the German artist Wolf Vostell, a figure of the Fluxus movement, in an 18th-century wool washhouse. The museum houses works by Vostell and other Fluxus and conceptual artists, and outdoor sculptures among the rocks, such as a car buried in concrete.
Waymarked trails cross the monument, with few climbs.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 2 to 3 hours, including the museum.
Best time
Late afternoon, with the sun low on the granite, or in spring when the storks are on the nests. The museum is closed on Mondays; check ahead.
How to get there
About 15 km from Cáceres, via Malpartida de Cáceres, roughly a 20-minute drive. There are buses to Malpartida, 3 km from the museum.
Tip
Do the short trail around the lagoons and the larger rocks and finish at the Vostell Museum. Bring binoculars to see the stork nests. In spring, stay for the sunset.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Monumento Natural Los Barruecos
What are the bolos of Los Barruecos?
Large blocks of granite rounded by erosion, stacked across the landscape.
Who was Wolf Vostell?
A German artist of the Fluxus movement, who created the museum in the former wool-washing facility of Malpartida in 1976.
When can you see the storks in Los Barruecos?
In spring, from March to June, there is usually more activity at the nests.