Tragacete municipality and Rewilding Spain have partnered to organise this event, that will take place in June 21-23, also in collaboration with Cuenca Province and Castilla-La Mancha governments.
Tragacete village (located in Cuenca province) will host the III Serranía Rural Fair from the 21st to the 23rd of June. The event’s main objectives are the promotion of the ecotourism assets of the region, as well as showcasing local crafts and products, and providing visibility for local nature-based businesses.
Visitors are called to take part in activities involving direct contact with nature, such as a guided observation journey to watch scavenger birds and two hiking routes.
Workshops son pottery, wicker basketry and esparto grass will be available, as these are traditional activities deeply rooted in the area. There will also be a workshop on vegetable gardening and another on the qualities of truffles. Musical performances, a shearing exhibition and popular meals have also been planned. In this way, the programme as a whole can be enjoyed by nature lovers, general public and families alike.
The mayor of Tragacete, Diego Yuste, highlighted the importance of this kind of events in a depopulated region where few services are available. “This fair was created with the purpose of breathing life to the artisans, to the town and to the whole Serranía de Cuenca region. In addition, the fair brings the opportunity for visitors to take a tour in the wild and learn about plants, wildlife and traditional trades that are being lost. This also helps more people to come and local businesses to survive.”
Rewilding Spain’s Enterprise Manager in the Iberian Highlands, Basilio Rodríguez, remarks the importance of the natural heritage of Serranía de Cuenca for the local economy of the region. “Nature activities tha we included in the programme are very attractive and accessible to all types of audience. They will show all visitors that the potential of the Serranía for ecotourism is really high and we hope that this will open up new opportunities for the businesses that already exist in the villages and also for new ones to emerge.”