Route through Protected Designation of Origin Guijuelo

The centre of the Iberian ham industry in this district is Guijuelo, a town with around 6 000 inhabitants, roughly three quarters of the population work in the meat industry. There are at least 50 businesses and 300 brand names of ham. There is a Mus

Miranda del Castañar is a lovely Medieval town, it has been an Artistic Historic Complex since 1973, with city walls and noble mansions houses made of wood and granite. Sotoserrano, a spectacular nature area that invites you to stroll through its grounds.
La Alberca was the first village to receive the Artistic Historic Monument distinction in 1940.

The nature in this district is ideal for hiking, it is part of the Biosphere Reserve of the Sierras de Béjar y Francia, Las Batuecas Nature Park and Sierra de Francia and the protected Nature Area of Sierra de las Quilamas.

Béjar, as well as being a very beautiful monumental place, has a ski resort (La Covatilla) and a historic centre called El Bosque.

4 kilometres from Béjar you come to the town Candelario, another place not to miss on this Iberian Ham Route, another Artistic Historic Complex since 1975 because of its traditional mountain architecture.

Do not miss visiting

Carnaval del Toro
Catedral de Salamanca
Valle de las Batuecas
Arribes del Duero
Santuario de la Peña de Francia
Castillo Duques de Alba
Universidad de Salamanca
Estación de esquí Sierra de Béjar - La Covatilla

Designation of Origin of the Iberian ham

The breeding and production area on the Route of the Iberian Ham is in the Autonomous Communities of Andalucía, Castilla y León and Extremadura. These areas are marked out by the Regulating Council of the Designation of Origin of the Iberian ham. Guijuelo, la Dehesa de Extremadura, Jamón de Huelva and Los Pedroches are the four areas with Designation of Origin at present.

Curing stages of Iberian ham

After the free range grazing, the pig is slaughtered in the traditional way or industrially to reduce stress so that the quality of the meat is not affected. At the time of slaughter the blood is used for making cold meats and preserves.

Ham festivals

There are professional trade fairs, gastronomic events, congresses and local festivals centred around Iberian ham in the areas all along Route that give ham a festive quality that attracts thousands of visitors.