🍇 San Martín del Castañar: The Long Weekend That Smells of New Wine
When October 12th falls on a Monday, that's no ordinary public holiday around here — it's the universe practically telling you to pack a bag. And this year the sign comes with something even better: on those exact dates (9th–11th October), San Martín del Castañar celebrates its Traditional Grape Harvest Festival, so the whole village smells of fresh grape must, woodsmoke, and the perfect excuse not to go home on Sunday.
Here's what you'll find if you decide to spend your long weekend here 👇
🎉 The Grape Harvest Festival: the village in full fiesta mode
Every October, the main square fills up to celebrate the grape harvest the way it's always been done here. Previous editions have included:
- 🥂 An opening toast with the Sierra de Francia Wine Route
- 🍷 Tastings of D.O.P. Sierra de Salamanca wines (yes, including our own Rufete)
- 🐐 The occasional surprise — like last year's goat-herding demonstration, right in the square
- 🎊 That small-village atmosphere where someone inevitably ends up offering you a taste of something you didn't know existed
🧩 The Mystery of Gonzalo de la Sierra
A 16th-century cellar master vanished without a trace, and someone has to solve it — that someone could be your family. It's our free Medieval Adventure game, right through the village streets:
- 📍 6 stops with QR codes hidden around the village
- ⏱️ 60–90 minutes at an easy pace
- 👨👩👧👦 Designed for adventurous couples, families and groups — easy to combine with the cellar visit
- 💸 Free — all you need is your phone, internet and GPS turned on, no download or sign-up required
🥾 To stretch your legs: routes through the Sierra de Francia
If your family plan calls for more fresh air, the Las Batuecas Natural Park and the Sierra de Francia have walking and mountain-bike routes of various levels, all published on Wikiloc. Perfect for working off lunch before the next tasting 🚵♀️.
🏰 La Bodega Medieval: a tasting with a secret included
Just two minutes' walk from the square, our 16th-century cellar waits for you underground, among stone, dim light and barrels that have been down there longer than most of our habits.
We taste Rufete, the sierra's native grape variety, in three experiences:
- 🍷 Tasting – from €14 + VAT
- 🧀 Flavours of the Sierra – from €24 + VAT
- ✨ Gourmet – from €34 + VAT
And yes — there's a secret hidden in the cellar itself that's only revealed at the end of the visit. No, we're not going to tell you here. For that, you'll have to come. 🤫
🔭 Where to stay: The Attic
For this particular long weekend we have availability at The Attic, our apartment with a private terrace and its own telescope — perfect for ending harvest night stargazing instead of staring at the ceiling of a roadside hotel.
(It has its own story — read about The Astronomer's Attic here.)
If this long weekend has convinced you, better book soon: October long weekends don't wait around ⏳.