Madrid & the Castle Route

Depart the UK for Madrid and head to your central hotel the Catalonia Plaza Mayor. Ideally positioned close to the Buen Retiro Park, you’ll have the capital’s ‘Golden Triangle of Art’ at your fingertips. Comprising the Prado, Reina Sofia and Thyssen-Bornemisza museums, it’s a comprehensive introduction to Madrid’s rich cultural wealth, showcased in timeless masterpieces by such luminaries as Dali and Picasso. Spend the next day exploring the city at your own pace, taking in its broad sweep of architectural styles that range from the strikingly contemporary to the extravagantly Belle Époque.

Stay: Catalonia Plaza Mayor Hotel, Madrid (Superior)

Pick up your car hire this morning and step off the beaten path as you drive deep into Spanish countryside to Ciudad Rodrigo’s medieval splendour. Here, churches, chapels and convents surround its 12th-century focal point – the Cathedral of Santa Maria. You'll spend the night at the Parador de Ciudad Rodrigo, a 14th century castle whose hilltop perch looks out to the River Agueda and Campo Charro’s rural sprawl. 

Stay: Parador de Ciudad Rodrigo (Superior)

Continuing on to Jarandilla de la Vera, you’ll arrive at its 15th-century parador eponym – a beautifully turreted castle palace. Here, stern stone walls, shaded courtyards and fortress towers are the ideal medieval springboard to such nearby attractions as the waterfall-dappled Olla Gorge and the Yuste Monastery, where Emperor Carlos V spent his final days. Closer still, the forests and shimmering lakes surrounding your hotel provide tranquil settings for walking, cycling and horse riding. 

Stay: Parador de Jarandilla de la Vera (Superior)

Your final stop is the village of Oropesa in La Mancha, a region of arid plains and ancient folklore. The town itself is home to several notable treasures, including a 16th-century Jesuit school, the Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion Church and the New Palace, ironically built in the 1400s. However, it’s the sprawling elegance of your 15th-century castle accommodation that dominates the skyline, its buttressed walls cloaking a pretty swimming pools and gourmet restaurant. Once the home of clergy and noblemen, it looks out to stunning views of the Sierra de Gredos.

Stay: Parador de Oropesa (Superior)

After breakfast, make your way back to Madrid, where you can enjoy some free time before returning your hire car and boarding your flight home.