There are several beech trees spread throughout our country that display all their charms in full autumnwhen the festival of colors is unleashed that stains the leafy forests and covers the floors with leaves, moss and mushrooms, surrounded by a silence only broken by the intense activity of the local fauna that is preparing for winter.
In Castilla la Mancha We find, however, a very particular one, as it seems to take us rather to more northern and humid lands with a landscape so special that it has earned it protection and recognition as a National Park and World Heritage Site. He Tejera Negra Beech It shines with its own light in the middle of the autumn season, unleashing a natural spectacle that makes it one of the most desired destinations for a truly disconnected getaway.
This forest, or group of forests, is truly a whole rarity due to its geographical location, and it enjoys a microclimate particular as it is nestled between the valleys of the Lillas River and the Zarzas River, fed by the La Buitrera glacier, between sharp rocky ridges.
Converted into a Natural Park in 1978, it was in 2011 when the park was created. Sierra Norte Natural Park of Guadalajara where this Beech Forest was integrated, and since 2017 it has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site as extension of the primary beech forests of the Carpathians and other regions of Europe, being the southernmost beech forest on the continent.
Autumn nature in all its splendor
The majestic and slender beech trees take center stage in this enclave, giving a ocean of colors its leafy branches when autumn is in full swing. The yellow, orange, reddish and ocher tones multiply in the glasses and cover the humid atmosphere with their fluffy mantle. undergrowthwhere if you are lucky you can also see mushrooms and numerous animals that are gathering food for the cold winter reserves.
But along with the beeches there also grow yews, pines, oaks, hazelnuts, chestnuts, hollies and birches, among others, a natural paradise for the fauna of roe deer, wild boar, foxes, badgers and weasels, as well as numerous raptors day and night, among which the golden eagle, the goshawk, the short-eared owl and the owl stand out.
To explore this beech forest, you can follow several routes on foot suitable for all audiences, the most popular being the circular paths of the Oakwood -the longest, 17 km- and of the Cartsand can also be visited at bicyclea highly recommended activity to follow the signposted route of the Zarzas River, about 21 km long.
The only thing to keep in mind is that, as a protected space, it has a series of mandatory rules, it is prohibited to camp, light fires, leave garbage or waste of any kind, pick mushrooms, disturb animals or make too much noise. Dogs can be accessed as long as they are restrained at all times.
How to get to and access the Tejera Negra Hayedo
The Hayedo de Tejera Negra is located in the municipality of Cantalojas, at northwest of Guadalajaraaccess being recommended, if arriving from the center or south of the peninsula, through Cogolludo-Galve de Sorbe, on the CM-1006 highway.
There is only one parking area permitted to leave the vehicle, with 130 spaces. It is accessed from the nearby town of Cantalojaswhich leads through a paved track to the Interpretation Center of the Park, a perfect starting point to get to know the environment and the paths better.
Afterwards, a paved section leads to the bridge and becomes dirt until reaching the parking lot, about 8 km away. Given the greater influx of visitors on weekends and autumn holidays, it is essential to reserve a place in advance through the website. However, it is possible to access it on foot or by bicycle, without a reservation, from the Interpretation Center.
En route through Castilla-La Mancha 1: 22 Road Routes (Lonely Planet En route Guides)
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