Region: ExtremaduraProvince: CáceresDeclared a Natural Park: 1979Upgraded to National Park: 2006Park surface area: 18.852 hectaresZ.E.P.A (1988) Special Bird Protection ZoneBiosphere Reserve 2003
Points of interest:
The area of Monfrague is noted for its importance as a breeding area for a selection of rare and protected birds, Black vulture, Black stork, Imperial eagle and Bonelli’s eagle. Add to that the worlds most endangered wild cat, the Lynx which also resides here and one can see why it has recently been upgraded from a natural to a national park.
The park altitudes range between 450 - 750m, covering an area 30km long and 7km wide. The habitat types are oak woods, scrub land, rocky out crops, river and reservoir plus dehesa. The two rivers, Tajo and Tiétar, cut in from the east with their confluence inside the park. Rugged cliffs offer an ideal breeding ground for large birds of prey with extensive plains for them to feed off. The impressive list of vertebrates for the park holds some 280 species.
Fauna:
Impressive raptors can be seen overhead in any part of the park and surrounds, including the endangered, Black vulture (Aegypius monachus), Imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) and Bonelli’s eagle (Hieraaetus fasciatus).
Griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) are numerous with fewer numbers of Egyptian vulture, Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), Short-toed eagle (Circaetus gallicus), Booted eagle (Aquila pennata), Eagle owl (Bubo bubo), Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) and Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus).
Two more on the endangered list are Black Stork (Ciconia nigra) and Red-necked nightjar (Caprimulgus ruficollis).
Other birds to look out for are White stork (Ciconia ciconia), Black-winged kite (Elanus caeruleus), Black kite (Milvus migrans), Bee-eater (Merops apiaster), Red-rumped swallow (Hirundo daurica rufula), Blue rock-thrush (Monticola solitarius), Black-eared wheatear (Oenanthe hispanica), Sardinian warbler (Sylvia melanocephala), Dartford warbler (Sylvia undata), Azure-winged magpie (Cyanopica cyana), Golden oriole (Oriolus oriolus), Woodchat shrike (Lanius senator), Hoopoe (Upupa epops), Rock bunting (Emberiza cia), Cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis), Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus), Purple heron (Ardea purpurea) and Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax ). It is one of a handful of locations in Europe where White-rumped Swift (Apus caffer) breeds.
Some mammals of the park are Red, Roe and Fallow deer, Mouflon, Wild Boar, Fox, Badger, Wildcat, Genet, Polecat, Beech marten and Iberian hare also the very shy Otter (Lutra lutra) and Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) plus the rare and elusive Lynx (Lynx pardinus).
Flora
Dehesas of evergreen Holm oak (Quercus rotundifolia) and Cork oak (Quercus suber) are an example of how man and nature can work together. These open fields with dispersed mixed oaks are where many birds both feed and nest.
Scrublands hold Rockroses (Cistus ladanifer, C. salvifolius), Heathers (Erica sp), Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas) and Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo).
Rocky areas hold Prickly juniper (Juniperus oxycedrus), Turpentine tree (Pistacia terebinthus) and Wild olive (Olea sylvestris). River banks have Alder (Alnus glutinosa) and Southern nettle tree (Celtis australis).
Other shrubs and small trees are Phillyrea latifolia, Phillyrea angustifolia, Acer monspessulanum and European serviceberry (Amelanchier ovalis).
Also in the area:
Outside the village of Villarreal de San Carlos are ruins of the 12th century Castle and Chapel of Our Lady overlooking the river Tagus.
Puente del Cardenal is built from granite rock beginning around 1450. The bridge has two semicircular arches and circular cutwaters.
Murciélagos Caves contain prehistoric remains including a series of schematic cave paintings.
Information/Visitors Centers
Villarreal de San Carlos
Torrejón el Rubio
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