Extremadura by Rail: Rome, Conquistadors and Vultures

This is where your journey begins. From Berlin, you head west by train, taking the long stretch to Spain at a relaxed pace, in stages.

A small, classic city hotel near the Grands Boulevards, good for an overnight stop. In the evening, there's time for a first stroll and dinner in the Marais.

Booking ahead is often cheaper here

From Paris, the fastest rail connection to Spain runs via Barcelona. The change in Barcelona is relaxed, with time for a coffee.

A hotel steeped in tradition, right opposite Atocha station, ideal for continuing your journey the next morning. The Prado and Retiro Park are within walking distance for a quiet evening stroll.

Booking ahead is often cheaper here

From Atocha, a regional train takes you straight to Merida in Extremadura. The journey passes through wide dehesa landscapes of cork oaks and pastureland.

Built around 15 BC, this theatre is one of the best-preserved in the Roman world and still hosts festivals today. The two-storey colonnaded backdrop behind the stage is a magnificent first impression of the ancient provincial capital, Emerita Augusta.

An elegant hotel housed in a palace right on Plaza de Espana, central and with parking for the hire car you'll pick up later. All the Roman monuments are within walking distance from here.

Booking ahead is often cheaper here

Of the once kilometres-long water channel, several tall pillars still stand, showing the characteristic alternation of brick and granite. Locals nicknamed it Los Milagros, the miraculous ones; today storks nest along the rows of arches.

Designed by Rafael Moneo, the museum displays mosaics, statues and everyday objects from Emerita Augusta in an impressive brick hall. A good place to get your bearings on the Roman city before exploring the ruins.

At almost 800 metres long, the Roman bridge over the Guadiana is one of the longest from antiquity and is now a footpath. At the bridgehead, the Moorish Alcazaba with its cistern guards the crossing — a lovely spot for an afternoon stroll.

Here you pick up the hire car booked in advance. Booking ahead is significantly cheaper than renting on the spot; the station is close to the station.

Enclosed by a city wall, the Ciudad Monumental is an almost completely preserved ensemble of medieval and Renaissance palaces with fortified towers on which storks nest. A wander through the winding lanes feels like stepping back into the age of the conquistadors.

The Parador occupies a 14th-century noble palace in the heart of the old town, with stone vaulting and a quiet courtyard. It offers a parking service, so your hire car is safely looked after while you explore the lanes on foot.

Booking ahead is often cheaper here

Lined with arcades and palaces, the sweeping Plaza Mayor is one of the finest squares in Spain; at its centre, Francisco Pizarro rides in bronze. Several conquerors of South America came from here, their wealth paying for the grand facades all around.

The Moorish castle crowns the hill above the town, offering wide views over the dehesa from its walls. The climb through the upper town, past old churches and palaces, is an experience in itself.

This magnificent monastery has been an important pilgrimage site for centuries and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, closely tied to the discovery of America. The guided tour through the sacristy with its Zurbaran paintings, cloister and treasury of relics is well worth it.

Around the monastery winds a maze of lanes with half-timbered houses, fountains and small squares. A good spot for a quiet lunch of regional cuisine before heading back to Caceres.

Surrounded by a mighty city wall, this bishopric town on the Jerte river combines two cathedrals, a lively Plaza Mayor and medieval lanes. It's also the gateway to Monfrague and a pleasant place to arrive.

The Parador occupies a former 15th-century monastery with a Gothic cloister, right in the old town. It has parking available and makes a peaceful starting point for excursions into the national park.

Booking ahead is often cheaper here

From the viewpoint opposite the massive quartzite outcrop, you can watch colonies of griffon vultures, along with black storks and, with luck, the rare black stork or golden eagle. Don't forget your binoculars; activity at the breeding cliff is especially high in spring.

The ruins of the Moorish castle sit high above the confluence of the Tajo and Tietar rivers, offering panoramic views over the gorges and the birds of prey circling overhead. The short but steep climb rewards you with one of the finest views in Extremadura.

The visitor centre in the tiny hamlet at the heart of the park provides information on the wildlife and the marked walking trails. A good place to choose a short circular route and reflect on the day's sightings.

The narrow Juderia of Hervas is considered one of Spain's best-preserved Jewish quarters, with steep cobbled lanes and chestnut-timbered houses. Wandering this maze by the Ambroz river takes you back to the time before the expulsion of 1492.

From Plasencia, you travel by train via Madrid and then onwards north back to Berlin. The journey home runs in stages, with changes in Madrid and Paris.

Arrival back at the starting point of your journey. The long return trip via Madrid and Paris completes the round trip; for the full route, you may want to consider an overnight stop if there's no through connection that suits.