Guided Tour of the Hervás Jewish Quarter

Three Departures a Day from Calle Braulio Navas

Visitas Hervás organises three free tours of the village from Tuesday to Sunday, all with prior booking. The first of the day, the "morning" one, leaves at 9:30 and lasts an hour and a half: the Jewish quarter, the church of La Asunción and the Trinitarian convent. "Historia de Hervás", at 12:00, is the most complete, of a hundred minutes: the old town, declared a Historic-Artistic Site; the church of Santa María de Aguas Vivas, built on the remains of a 13th-century Templar fortress; the Jewish quarter, which is part of the Network of Jewish Quarters of Spain; the banks of the Ambroz and the medieval Fuente Chiquita bridge. On the way you hear about the life of the village's Jews and conversos and what the Edict of Granada meant for them.

The third, "Atardeceres por Hervás", leaves at 17:00 (at 19:00 in summer, best to confirm) and lasts another hundred minutes. It covers the square, the castle and Santa María, the Jewish quarter, the Fuente Chiquita bridge and the steps of Calle La Cuestecilla, with more legends, the history of the quarter's merchants and what is told of the bonfires on its streets at dusk.

The meeting point is the "Corazón de Hervás", beside the tourist office on Calle Braulio Navas, although the website also names the Plaza de la Corredera: confirm when you book.

You Pay at the End, Book Beforehand

On the free tours there is no price: at the end, each person pays what they think is fair. You do need to book, with a minimum of six people per departure, using the form at hervas.info, by phone or by WhatsApp on 722 768 148. If there are fewer of you, ask whether there is another booking you can join. The website does not publish what happens if it rains or how to cancel.

An Official Guide Who Also Signs

Guide Rebeca Farrán, a graduate in History, sign-language interpreter and official guide of Extremadura Tourism (registration 00288-GT). The tours are in Spanish and in sign language, for all ages and with dogs. The walk is urban and without difficulty, but the Jewish quarter has slopes, steps and cobbles: wear comfortable shoes, and if you come with a pushchair bear in mind the steps of La Cuestecilla on the afternoon departure.

The Paid Tours: Families and the Chestnut Grove

Besides the free tours, the same guide runs "Hervás, un pueblo de cuento", designed for families with children: a hundred minutes at 17:00, on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, school holidays and public holidays, for €10 for adults; children up to ten do not pay. It also asks for a minimum of six people.

The full visit to the Castañar Gallego and the Jewish quarter lasts three hours and covers about 9 km: first the chestnut forest with a biologist and nature guide, from the company ViveAmbroz, with 4x4 transfer, and then the Jewish quarter with the official guide. It costs €20, leaves in the morning or afternoon and needs a minimum of four people. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes.

To carry on by yourself afterwards, the page on the Jewish quarter explains what to see street by street, and from the Santa María viewpoint you have the whole village below. When the 12:00 free tour ends, Sésamo is in the same Jewish quarter, if it is Friday, Saturday or Sunday.