Iberian Wolf Centre of Castilla y León, in Robledo

In Robledo, south of Puebla de Sanabria, the Junta's Iberian Wolf Centre “Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente” keeps Iberian wolves in large woodland enclosures, in semi-liberty. It is not a zoo: the visit is always guided, in small groups, and combines a museum on the wolf with watching the animals from raised observation points.

What the visit is like

It has two parts. First, an interpretive guide takes you through the building, of 1,800 m², half-buried and with a planted roof, with four rooms: knowledge and management of the wolf, intangible heritage, material heritage and the wolf as a night hunter, plus a corridor on livestock farming and the wolf. Afterwards, with the keepers, you go out to see the wolves. There are two main enclosures of about 3 hectares each, with natural vegetation, shelters and ponds, and three raised observatories for watching them without disturbing them. Some paths to the observation points are accessible.

Most of the wolves were born in captivity and came from other parks; some were rescued from the wild and could not return to it. All visits last about two hours, according to the Zamora tourist office's resource leaflet.

Opening hours, tickets and booking

The centre is open Monday to Thursday from 9:00 to 16:00 and Friday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00; the specific sessions can be seen in the booking calendar. Booking and payment are compulsory online, at centrodellobo.es: you choose the day and time and pay, and you receive an email with the booking number that you only need to show on your phone. You must arrive 15 minutes before your assigned time.

General admission costs €8; €6 for pensioners and €4 for large families, youth card holders and people with disabilities; children up to 7 do not pay. There is a joint ticket with the lake's Park House, for €8. Telephones: 608 373 962 (Monday to Thursday) and 980 567 638 (Friday to Sunday).

Getting there

From Puebla de Sanabria, take the ZA-921 towards Ungilde and continue to Robledo; at the entrance to the village, a sign points to the centre, about 1,500 metres away. The centre warns you not to use the Pedroso to Robledo road, which is in poor condition, and that satnavs may send you along forest tracks. From the car park it is about 400 metres, ten minutes on foot, along a path and a wooden walkway.

With children it is one of the best plans in the area: bring warm clothes and binoculars if you have them. It combines well with a walk around the town of Puebla de Sanabria and, in September and October, with the deer rut in the Sierra de la Culebra.