The municipality of Cerralbo, situated to the north of the El Abadengo region in the province of Salamanca, is found on the route that connects the capital to the Portuguese border between Vitigudino and the neighboring town of Lumbrales.
Its origins go back to the Copper Age as can be seen in the archaeological sites of the Picón del Rey or the Alto del Espía. Moreover, in the nearby vicinities, several forts from the Vettones and other archeological remains were discovered. In fact, the village owes its name to a Roman settlement denominated Cerrus Albo (Cerro Blanco). Vestiges such as inscriptions or funerary steles were found belonging to this period.
Around the 15th Century, the Trastamara awarded the village the title of “town” and later the village began to form part of the jurisdictional domain of the Pacheco family. One of its members, Esteban, the first Marquis of Cerralbo, ordered the construction of a castle for defensive purposes against the Portuguese. This Late Medieval construction played a more important role as a fortress in the 17th century during the Portuguese War of Independence (1640-1668). It was set on fire and then later vacated leading to its current situation of abandonment and ruin.
Also, the original residence and chapel belonging to the Marquis are located in the nearby town of Ciudad Rodrigo. This was once their habitual residence until they moved to the palace they possessed in Madrid, which is now the actual Cerralbo Museum.
It is also important to mention the remains of the Convent of Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles dating back to the end of the 16th Century and the bridge that is elevated over the Huebra River.
