# November long weekend from Badajoz: getaways for All Saints Getaways from Badajoz for 1 November: yellow chestnut trees in Aracena, Hervás and Marvão, pigs in the montanera, La Alberca in autumn and a thermal afternoon in Zafra. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/extremadura/badajoz/getaways/november-long-weekend · Revisado: 2026-11-13 Origen: Badajoz - [An autumn weekend in the Sierra de Aracena: chestnut groves, acorn-fed pigs and ham](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/andalusia/sierra-de-aracena/itineraries/sierra-de-aracena-autumn-chestnuts-ham.md) (2 nights, Sierra de Aracena): From the end of October to November the chestnut trees of the Aracena sierra turn yellow and drop their chestnuts, and in the dehesa the Iberian pig eats acorns in the montanera. It is the sierra's best season and the most in demand: buy the cave pass and the Cinco Jotas visit beforehand. - [Aracena: chestnut groves and cave](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/andalusia/sierra-de-aracena/itineraries/autumn-among-chestnut-groves-from-huelva.md) (Day itinerary, Sierra de Aracena): For those who do not want to sleep away: almost two hours by car, a short walk among chestnut trees and pigs in the montanera at Castaño del Robledo and the cave in the afternoon. The chestnut trees are at their best from the end of October to November; some years colour remains in December. - [Autumn in Hervás and the Ambroz Valley, three hours from Madrid](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/extremadura/hervas-and-the-ambroz-valley/itineraries/autumn-hervas-ambroz-valley-from-madrid.md) (2 nights, Hervás and the Ambroz Valley): From early October to the last weekend of November, the Ambroz Valley celebrates the Otoño Mágico, with walks through the chestnut grove and markets. In early November the Hervás chestnut grove is at its best colour. Book the Vía Verde bike and meals. - [Marvão and Castelo de Vide](https://www.geocalia.com/en/portugal/alentejo/marvao/itineraries/walls-and-jewish-quarter-castelo-de-vide.md) (Day itinerary, Marvão): In autumn the São Mamede hills are green and the chestnut trees at Marvão golden. In mid-November, the chestnut fair fills the village: on 1 November not yet, and you walk around in peace. It is a holiday in Portugal too, and restaurants fill at midday. - [A weekend in La Alberca and the Sierra de Francia, an hour from Salamanca](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castile-and-leon/la-alberca/itineraries/la-alberca-sierra-de-francia-weekend.md) (2 nights, La Alberca and the Sierra de Francia): October and November are the Sierra de Francia's season, with golden chestnut trees and magosto time. The Casa del Parque is open Friday to Sunday: call in on the first day. In November there may be mist on the Peña de Francia; go up on the clearest day. - [Monsaraz: town, menhirs and potters](https://www.geocalia.com/en/portugal/alentejo/monsaraz/itineraries/menhirs-potters-and-alqueva-views.md) (Day itinerary, Monsaraz): From October to June is Monsaraz's season, and in autumn Lake Alqueva is seen from the castle in clear light. The São Pedro do Corval workshops have their own hours and not all open on holidays: 1 November is a holiday in Portugal, so call first. - [Zafra: squares, convent and spa](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/extremadura/zafra/itineraries/squares-santa-clara-and-spa.md) (Day itinerary, Zafra): From autumn to spring is when you fancy the thermal pool, and November opens that season. A morning of squares and Santa Clara, lunch in the Feria family's alcázar and an afternoon circuit at El Raposo, adults only. The Santa Clara Museum is open on Sunday from 10:00 to 14:00. ## 1 November on both sides of the border All Saints is the chestnut long weekend: it arrives when the chestnut groves in the ranges around Badajoz turn yellow. 1 November is a holiday in Extremadura and in Portugal, and Extremadura does not add another day: there is a three-day long weekend if it falls on a Friday or Monday, four if it falls on a Tuesday or Thursday and you take the day in between, and none if it falls on a Wednesday or at a weekend. It is a long weekend of cemetery visits and family meals, often in the home village. That is why this page gathers short getaways, of a day or a night, and two longer ones for those who have the whole time free. ## The chestnut season Early November is the moment for chestnut groves. There are three within reach of Badajoz. To the south, the Sierra de Aracena, almost two hours away, where the chestnut trees turn yellow among white villages and the dehesa has Iberian pigs eating acorns. To the north, the Ambroz Valley, two and a half hours away, with its Otoño Mágico of walks and markets. And across the border, Marvão, an hour and a half away, with the São Mamede chestnut trees below the walls. Further, a little over three hours away, La Alberca combines chestnut grove, Batuecas and the Peña de Francia in two nights. ## The montanera From October to February the Iberian pig spends the montanera in the dehesa, eating acorns. In the Aracena sierra you see it from the paths, among chestnut and holm oaks. A visit to a Jabugo ham cellar completes the trip: it is the time of year when people talk about the year's acorn crop. ## Mist on the walls, sun in the afternoon November in Extremadura starts mild, with cool mornings and afternoons of twenty degrees on sunny days. In the sierra it is colder and there may be mist in the morning, especially in Marvão and on the Peña de Francia: with mist, you cannot see anything from the walls. Check the report and leave the views for the afternoon, which usually clears. If it rains, the Gruta de las Maravillas and the spa at Zafra are the plans under cover. ## The cave of lakes The Gruta de las Maravillas in Aracena is the most rewarding plan, with lakes and stalactites. In Marvão, the castle and its cistern are explored like a fairy-tale fortress. In the Ambroz, the Vía Verde by bike, with a gentle gradient, suits families. The Zafra spa, on the other hand, is for adults only. ## Aracena in high season In Aracena, everything: the two-night accommodation, the cave pass and the weekend meals, because it is high season. In Hervás, the bike and the guided visit. In Portugal, lunch on 1 November, which is also a holiday there. And in Zafra, the spa circuit. ## What to know about Portugal 1 November is Dia de Todos os Santos, a holiday in Portugal, and eleven days later comes San Martín, the festival of roast chestnuts and new wine, with magustos across the country. The Marvão chestnut fair is in mid-November: if you want to see it, the All Saints long weekend falls short, and if you want the quiet village, the 1st is the better day. Remember the time: in Portugal it is one hour earlier. ## Neither beach, nor blossom, nor rut The Monsaraz river beach and the coves of the Lisbon coast are for summer. The Jerte cherry tree does not bloom in November: it turns red and ochre with the Otoñada. And the Monfragüe deer rut has already passed: it is in October. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### Are the chestnut trees in colour on 1 November? Normally yes: in Aracena, the Ambroz and Marvão the chestnut grove is at its best from the end of October to November, depending on each year's cold. ### Is 1 November a holiday in Portugal? Yes, it is Dia de Todos os Santos. Some workshops and shops close and restaurants fill at midday. ### Is there a plan for a rainy day? The Gruta de las Maravillas in Aracena, the Zafra spa or the Santa Clara Museum, all under cover. ### What is the montanera? The season, from October to February, when the Iberian pig eats acorns in the dehesa. In the Aracena sierra you see it from the paths.