Iron Camino turns four years as a reference engine and tourist development in West Salamanca
Four years after its opening to the public, Iron Camino has created itself as one of the major tourist references in Salamana and Castilla Y. This unique trip, which was promoted by Diputación de Salamanca, which opened its tour on April 23, 2021, managed to attract more than 70,000 infiltrators, with a current average of 17,000 visitors annually, thanks to its blend of landscapes, history and the history of railways.
For a distance of 17 km, the road crosses an amazing natural scenario, as it toured 20 tunnels in the rocks and 10 bridges hanging on the barrel of the águida river. The visitor literally walks on the imprint of the railway inheritance of cultural interest in 2000, and that Reporn today turned into a long -distance walking path in Europe.
This success was also recognized in January 2024, when Camino De Hierro was distinguished by the Fitur Active Tourism Award, in the National Nature category, a award for granting it the International Tourism Exhibition in cooperation with Air Free magazine, which recognizes the best tourism products for adventure and the nature of the country.
The effect of the iron path exceeds its numbers. Its implementation means a real transformation of the municipalities of the environment, such as Fregeneda, Hinojosa de Duero or Lumbrales, where tourism and economic activity has been activated. In these years, more than 20 new companies linked to rural, hospitality, or active entertainment were created, indicating the project’s ability to enhance the rural environment in a real and sustainable way.
“This is one of the stars projects from Diputación. In fact, Diputación President Javier Iglisias says that Diputación is giving a new motivation to the road and loyalty to those who have already traveled, in fact, Diputación works on those who have already traveled.
Among the most prominent developments, the launch of a free mobile application with Audioguía, available on iOS and Android, which allows you to follow the path while accessing beneficial content in different formats (sound, video, text, images and animation). The application provides details about 15 points of attention to the tour, including natural heritage, historical elements and cultural data of the environment.
Likewise, a shuttle service was launched from Dock Vega Terón, which allows the visitor to leave his car at the end of the tour and is properly transported to the beginning. Improving logistics that helps provide a more practical and sustainable experience.
The visitor’s file is mostly national, with a noticeable representation of tourists from Castilla Y León (40 %), Madrid (22 %), Galicia (11 %) and Extremadura (8 %), as well as an important flow of Portugal, which already represents 12 % of the total.
On the occasion of this fourth anniversary, Diputación de Salamanca organized a lot of 100 invitation to visit The Iron Camino, which aims at the followers of social networks and those on the same way. In addition, as part of the educational commitment and the spread of heritage, visits to school students will be scheduled from various centers in the province, with the aim of making this natural and cultural heritage closer to schools.
Iron Camino has not only returned the life of the roads that have been in a state of negligence for decades, but also prepared the opening of doors to the future of the region that today feels more visit with more opportunities. Wonderful bet from Diputación that continues to win.
