Monte el Viejo
Valuable natural area of Mediterranean forest just 6 kilometers from the town
Located on a moorland just six kilometers from the city center, Monte el Viejo is a valuable natural space linked to the history of Palencia for at least eight centuries, when the Town Hall and the Cathedral chapter acquired their terms from monarch Alfonso VIII in 1191. With an extension that reaches 1,435 hectares, it is the great reserve of Palencia's biodiversity, its true green lung, thanks to a wide vegetation of gall and oak with scattered shrubs and aromatic plants such as thyme, rockrose or sage. El Monte is also an interesting recreational place connected to the capital by a bicycle lane, which offers varied sports possibilities, such as mountain bike routes or hiking. Inside, it is possible to enjoy a deer reserve, sports infrastructures (tennis or basketball courts) and charming corners such as El Refugio, Casa Grande (a building dating from the 16th century) or Casa Pequeno, a charming building which offers probably the best panoramic views of the city.