Sierra of
Demanda
The Sierra of Demanda is one of the most
beautiful wild areas in Burgos. It is located in the Southeast
of the province, sorrounded by three mountain masses to the
Northwest of the Sistema Ibérico massif: the Sierras
of San Millán, Mencilla and Neila. In Sierra Neila
there are glacial lagoons bordered by splendid specimens of
the "Pinus sylvestrus". The Demanda area is of great
geomorphological interest. There are traces of glaciation
on its peaks and old mountain masses where can be found Paleozoic,
Triassic and Jurassic elements.
This natural setting is also a vegetal paradise.
The flora includes beech groves, badgers, holly trees, yews
and specimens of the "Pinus sylvestrus" and "Querais
Pyrenaica".
The fauna is also worthy of note. The woods
are inhabited by wolfs, roe deers, deers, badgers, wildcats,
otters, royal eagles, snakes, goshawks, falcons and "Galemys
pyrenaicus".
Apart from its biological diversity, this
wild area offers ethnographic attractions. There are many
villages filled with history and art. Worthy of note are
the Romanesque portals of Vizcaíno, Pineda de la
Sierra and Jaramillo de la Fuente; the Medieval monasteries
and necropolis of Revenga, Cuyacabras, Cueva Andrés
and La Cerca; and the forges of Barbadillo de Herreros and
Huerta de Abajo. The works of popular architecture show
an influence of the rooted transhumant customs of the area.
Access to this unique natural park is via
Quintanar de la Sierra, from which a road through Sierra
de Neila and Mancilla leads to La Demanda.
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