Cuacos de Yuste Historical Site

Back in 1959, the town of Cuacos de Yuste, in the county of La Vera, was declared an ‘Aesthetic Reserve’. The current equivalent of this designation would be an Asset of Cultural Interest in the Historical Site category.

One of the defining features of La Vera is its traditional architecture: determined by the physical elements of the area, it features a highland style that makes use of timber framing.

The winding routes of its streets and perfect condition of its traditional and stately architecture allow visitors to enjoy the charm of this lovely municipality.

The main monument in the town is the Palace-Monastery of Yuste. Today, the palace is a National Heritage site associated with the Crown of Spain. The monastery was one of the main enclaves of the Order of Saint Jerome until they left it, and since 2013 it has been inhabited by monks of the Pauline Order. The Holy Roman Emperor Charles V (King Charles I of Spain) lived here for just over a year before he died.

Cuacos de Yuste provides a wonderful setting for strolling through its streets and discovering its hidden corners. One of its main attractions is the porticoed Plaza Mayor square, with a four-spouted fountain in the centre.

Another square, Plaza de Juan de Austria, is where the prince and son of Emperor Charles V had his home, also known as the ‘House of Jeromín’. The refurbished building is now the headquarters of the Intermunicipal Association of La Vera.

The highland-style houses, made using masonry, adobe and timber framing, have bay windows and porticoed façades supported by wooden columns on a granite foundation.

Highlights of the town’s monuments that are must-sees for visitors include the porticoed Plaza Mayor and Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, home to a magnificent 16th-century organ made in Antwerp and brought from the Monastery of Yuste.
The town also has two beautiful squares, Plaza de España, partially porticoed, and Plaza de la Fuente de los Chorros, very small in size but uniquely beautiful.