“Riberation” among birds

HOCES DEL RÍO RIAZA NATURAL PARK

Hoces del Río Riaza is in the north-east of Segovia province, very near the provinces of Burgos and Soria. The River Riaza runs through this natural area of great value for its landscape and fauna.

The presence of limestone cliffs with many ledges and holes of all sizes allows a rich community of cliff-dwelling birds to nest. Meanwhile, every year, the Linares del Aroyo reservoir becomes the main area in the province for water birds to spend the winter.

In the area of Hoces del Río Riaza, you can visit a series of small villages that still preserve their rural heritage and purest traditions. At Montejo de la Vega de la Serrezuela is the Hoces del Río Riaza Natural Park Centre, which is the reception centre for visitors to the park. In this area you can also enjoy high-quality cuisine, such as roast suckling lamb and Ribera del Duero red wines.

This natural area has received the European Sustainable Tourism Charter granted by the EUROPARC Federation, an organisation that brings European protected natural areas together and which has developed the methodology for accrediting and granting the charter to protected areas that have proved their commitment to applying the principles of sustainable tourism.

As well as its spectacular landscape in this lonely geographical area there is one of the largest colonies in Europe of griffon vultures. Human activity has also left its mark on these lands with the lonely Romanesque remains of the monastery of San Martín del Casuar.

The Hoces del Río Riaza Natural Park Centre is the reception centre for visitors to the park. Here you can find out about everything you need for your visit and you will be informed about the different routes within the natural park and in other nearby areas of great cultural or natural interest.

Between 1 January and 31 July you need to ask for permission from the park centre to cross the natural park reserve area.

You also need permission for walking the routes around the Linares del Arroyo reservoir and for fishing in this protected natural area.