Eastern Leonese Royal Drovers’ Road
Ávila
We begin this route on the outskirts of Brieva, a neighborhood annexed to the capital that, in the past, was an important passage point for transhumant livestock. This was because the Cordel de las Merinas, a livestock trail that linked other areas with the main route of the region, in this case, the Cañada Real Soriana. ran through here.
The livestock trails, created in the 13th century, enabled the seasonal movement of transhumant herds, enjoying protection and rights of passage and rest for the flocks, which at certain times in our history were a true economic driving force at the national level.
The Cañada Real is the highest-ranking and widest category, measuring 75 meters across. These are the great transhumant routes, covering the longest distances. The Cordel, on the other hand, is of lesser size, usually serving as a branch or secondary trail linking the Cañada with areas of lower livestock traffic. Its width is 37.5 meters. These routes hold great historical and cultural value, while also representing green corridors that connect ecosystems, making them environmentally valuable as well.
