Los Monteros Sierra De Francia

Jose Antonio, the owner, was always on hand with helpful updates about local services and places to visit. We spent the December bank holiday weekend at the house and found it just as shown in the photos, clean, comfortable, and equipped with what we needed. It’s also a handy base for seeing the villages and sights around the Sierra de Francia.

The owner was lovely and helpful, and everything else was great, but the bed really spoiled the weekend. My husband and I both had back pain afterward. It’s a spring mattress, and the pillows are very low and soft.

Jose Antonio was always there when we needed anything, with plenty of advice and so much kindness and courtesy. The stay was simply perfect. We loved the Sierra de Francia, with its villages, rivers, mountains, and trails, and without crowds. We stayed for a week in August 2021, two adults and two eight-year-old girls at Los Monteros II. The apartment was spotless and well kept, with a comfortable, well-equipped bathroom and a small kitchen that covered our needs. It had the essentials, including a two-burner ceramic hob, fridge with freezer, small dishwasher, washing machine, microwave, and coffee maker. There could have been more cookware and storage for four people, but we managed. The place is a small house split into a bedroom, bathroom, and living/dining/kitchen area by partitions that stop short of the ceiling. I thought the arrangement made it feel spacious. There wasn’t a lot of natural light, though it was enough. The bedroom has a double bed with a very comfortable mattress, and we slept well. The living area has a double-sized sofa bed for the girls, with a mattress that suited children perfectly. It needs folding away each day to make room for meals and relaxing, but that was quick and easy, and there was no need to remake the bed. We can’t say much about the pillows since we bring our own. We were glad to find the apartment stayed comfortable even on hot days, thanks to the well-insulated roof. We were out exploring most days, but when we ate lunch at home, it was pleasant indoors despite the heat outside. The nights were cool too, so we didn’t end up needing air conditioning. The ground-floor apartment has no one above it and looks onto landscaped communal areas, with its entrance through one of them. There’s also a street behind and a shared wall with the neighboring apartment. A couple was staying there during our visit, but we didn’t hear them at all. The shared outside area is well maintained and clean, with access to our place, the one next door, and Jose Antonio’s house. It also has a private spot with a table and four chairs, a garden, and a clothesline. The village is very quiet, though there isn’t much to see there. Its position at the gateway to the Sierra de Francia was just what we wanted, with everything we wanted to visit nearby. There’s no shop, but Tamames is only 7 km away and has what you need. Don’t skip the cheese shop 100 meters from the house. It was interesting, the cheeses were excellent, and the owners were very friendly.

The first time we stayed, the little house’s rural feel won us over, and we had three unforgettable nights. Since then, we’ve returned for the All Saints’ Day long weekend every year for seven years, apart from during lockdown. We love the quiet of Aldeanueva and the chance to get away from city stress and relax. A visit to Salamanca and La Alberca is a must for us, too. José Antonio has looked after us so well over the years that he’s become someone we truly value and feel grateful to. His excellent service makes every stay comfortable. There were five of us this past year, and, if all goes well, six will come next time.