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La Voz de Madrid

Colmenar Viejo Celebrates Spring with Natural Heritage and Gastronomy Events

The Madrid municipality organizes an extensive program combining livestock tradition, artisanal cheese fairs, and nocturnal routes through the Dehesa de Navalvillar.

Generic image of a flock of sheep being guided by a shepherd dog in a rural setting.
IA

Generic image of a flock of sheep being guided by a shepherd dog in a rural setting.

Colmenar Viejo is set to experience a spring filled with activities highlighting its natural heritage, blending livestock traditions with gastronomic events and routes through the Dehesa de Navalvillar, inviting residents to reconnect with their surroundings.

The program kicks off with a strong rural and traditional Spanish flair. On Friday, April 10, the Dehesa de Navalvillar will host the X edition of the Shepherding Days. Although initially reserved for specific groups and students, this activity aims to preserve traditional crafts through manual and mechanical shearing demonstrations, featuring local Churra sheep and the shepherd dog Casta.
The main event for the general public will take place on Saturday, April 11. At 10:00h, the sound of cowbells will announce the start of the transhumance of a goat herd. The route will begin at the entrance of the Dehesa (San Pedro-La Mueda) and head towards the Plaza de Toros, where the animals are expected to arrive around 12:30h. This event will offer a unique opportunity for families and visitors to enjoy a scene directly connected to the municipality's roots.
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"For these days, we have designed a program of activities aimed at all audiences, where the main protagonists are nature, environmental care, and respect for the natural environment that surrounds us."

Agustín de la Fuente Jiménez · Councillor for Environment and Sustainability
On the same Saturday, April 11, the area around the Plaza de Toros will transform into the hub for the Artisanal Cheese Fair, open from 11:00h to 20:00h. Twenty producers from various regions of Spain, including Madrid, Cantabria, Asturias, and both Castillas, will offer their high-quality products. The day will be complemented by traditional wooden games, creative wool workshops, and a free tasting of shepherd's migas at 13:00h.
Hiking enthusiasts can participate in the XXIII edition of the Environmental March on Saturday, April 18. Under the slogan «Colmenar on the Move for the Environment», the 12.3-kilometer route will traverse the cattle trails of the Dehesa de Navalvillar. The departure will be at 09:30h from the Recinto Ferial on Huertas Street, with a limited capacity of 300 people and registrations from April 6 to 13.
In May, the «Nights of the Dehesa» will offer an astronomical experience on May 8 and 9, where experts will guide the observation of planets and constellations. Additionally, botany workshops will be held on May 22 and a talk on beekeeping on May 29. In June, June 5 will be dedicated to wool stories and workshops, and on June 26, a moonlit walk, «The Whispers in the Dehesa», will conclude the program, with registrations from June 11 to 22.

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