What makes Ras de Terra, Spain worth the journey?

Ras de Terra is a rehabilitated tobacco dryer transformed into a creative residency at the foot of Gredos. Founded by artists Mónica and Juan, it's where creatives gather to work, share ideas, and connect with the land of La Vera.

Spain, Europe

Ras De Terra

Unleash your creativity at Ras de Terra, a vibrant artistic hub nestled in a restored tobacco dryer at the foot of Gredos mountain range

Ras de Terra (acronym for Artistic Rehabilitation of Tobacco Dryers) was conceived by Mónica Sánchez-Robles and Juan Urquiola as a space where creatives of all kinds come together to think, work, and share ideas. Their connection to art, social consciousness, and respect for nature led them to rehabilitate an abandoned tobacco dryer immersed in 5 inspiring hectares at the foot of Gredos, in the region of La Vera, with a proposal for agricultural development on the land and practical research.

Ras de Terra invites you to enjoy a privileged natural environment, a fervent artistic atmosphere, and the opportunity to explore one of the richest areas in history and traditions; the Comarca de la Vera. At Ras De Terra, you will wake up at the foot of the peaks of the Sierra de Gredos, which, with its peaks reaching up to 2600 meters and its granite formations, is one of the most important mountain ranges in the Iberian Peninsula.

The Comarca de la Vera offers its rivers and waterfalls for you to venture on long, relaxing walks and hiking routes, whether to disconnect or to share a quality moment with your friends and family.

Ras de Terra, with its diverse lodging solutions, offers you the opportunity for a very comfortable stay and the chance to relax in its pool during summertime, to try fresh products cultivated organically in the vegetable garden, and to stay only a few kilometers away from the historic small town of Madrigal de la Vera, which offers basic services.

GLOWING PEAKS
& BEAUTIFUL SURROUNDINGS

Enjoy of the wonderful sunset light hitting the mountains of the Sierra de Gredos

OUR ECOLOGICAL GARDEN

Where organic dreams take root

A GREAT PLACE
TO DISCONNECT

Relax and enjoy good company and the tranquility of the countryside

A CONNECTION WITH ART, NATURE AND COMMUNITY

We host create artistic and cultural events to share with our community and guests

Your Hosts - Mónica & Juan

Ras de Terra serves as our refuge in Extremadura, far removed from the bustling city of Madrid where we lead our lives. Our shared passion for nature and culture has driven us to create and wholeheartedly believe in this project. Here, we have found not just a home, but also a vibrant community and breathtaking natural surroundings.

We are eager to share this beauty with our guests and extend a warm welcome to them, facilitating a genuine connection with the environment, local people, and their traditions.
We invite you to revel in the tranquility of this idyllic setting and consider Ras de Terra as one of your cherished retreats. Our commitment lies not merely in providing accommodation, but in crafting an exceptional experience for our guests.

Our insights..

Transparency is essential if we are all going to grow and improve together and this is why we have dedicated this section to sharing what we love about each place and its hosts. We work with each of our hosts to improve their guest experiences, sustainability practices and local impact, this is where you can learn more about that along with what still needs to be improved, the measures being taken to ensure our hosts continue to move forward and every now and then we’ll come back to update you on their progress.

Lars von der Wettern

Visited the property in November 2023

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The Comarca de la Vera offers its rivers and waterfalls for you to venture on long, relaxing walks and hiking routes, whether to disconnect or to share a quality moment with your friends and family.

LOWING PEAKS AND BEAUTIFUL SURROUNDINGS

Enjoy of the wonderful sunset light hitting the mountains of the Sierra de Gredos.

A CONNECTION WITH ART, NATURE AND COMMUNITY

We host create artistic and cultural events to share with our community and guests

A GREAT PLACE TO DISCONNECT

Relax and enjoy good company and the tranquility of the countryside

OUR ECOLOGICAL GARDEN

Where organic dreams take root

Your Hosts - Mónica & Juan

Our insights..

–

Lars von der Wettern

Visited the property in November 2023

Community & Sustainability Commitment

Here are some key sustainability & community practices that these hosts are committed to. Please use the key below the icons for reference. You might see that some measurements are not currently in place and that’s okay, we choose to support our hosts on their imperfect road towards a better world and we understand that that takes time.

Sustainability Practices

Community Commitments

Not in Place

Eco Certifications & Efforts

Just as we admire each of our hosts for their singularity, we appreciate that their sustainability journeys are also unique. Because of this, we do not require our hosts to have an eco certification or two under their belt, we simply guide them on improving their sustainable business practices one imperfect – but positive – step at a time. If a host has eco certifications they will be shown below, if not, then know we are working towards this together.

Our Efforts

We are sustainable and rely on solar energy, seeking zero environmental impact.

We practice regenerative agriculture to contribute to the issues of climate change, water maintenance, and biodiversity loss.

NGOs & Local Impact Projects Supported

Each of our hosts strive to have a positive impact on their local communities. Some of our hosts already have established connections with local partners to enrich the lives and wellbeing of their communities, others are in the process of creating these long term relationships. If a host has local NGO connections they will be shown below, if not, then know we are working towards this together.

Our Efforts

We aim to identify specific issues related to rural problems and expose them through events, projects, helping to decentralize culture.

We promote social exchange, from local to international and vice versa.

An example of this is the Rural Opera, an event that Ras de Terra produces every year, which takes place in the nearby village square of Villanueva de La Vera, with the aim of decentralising culture. With this event, Ras de Terra facilitates access to a show that normally takes place in a theatre, and not in a rural setting. In this way, people who live far from the city can have the opportunity to enjoy a quality performance without having to travel to the city.

Another example can be some workshops Ras de Terra promote about local material and bio construction.

Nurturing local culture

Ras de Terra opened its doors with the intention of introducing the rural into the equation of the current world and as a future option in a post-pandemic system. It arises from the desire to seek a more sustainable and inclusive way of life, establishing a dialogue between nature, history, and culture with the current technological reality. Ras de Terra is a partner of the New European Bauhaus.

We believe that culture regenerates and revitalises wherever it develops, showcasing its value as an investment.

The Four Cs

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Conservation

72%

Highlights:

Community

43%