The Carmelite convent of Batuecas Desert, established by Thomas á Jesu is located five kilometres away, but the route there from the town is 12 km.

(Disputed)[citation needed] People have been living in the area of La Alberca since before the arrival of the Romans, as evinced by the pre-Roman castro which sits beneath a part of town.

In the 13th century the town of La Alberca was a clerk of the crown, being one of the few places in the Sierra de France that belonged to Miranda County.

In the 15th century, John II of Castile brought the town under the domain of the House of Alba who later gained control of part of the Sierra de France with the help of Ferdinand.

The chronicles state that "in 1520 the campaign to construct the set of bells was completed by collecting the albercanos rings, silver jewelry and smelt..." In the Natural Park of Las Batuecas are multiple sacred places of worship as well as prehistoric caves.

The Shrine of Our Lady of Old Majadas is out towards Mogarraz, about 3 km (1.9 mi) into a forest of chestnut and oak, hidden and almost mystical.

They carry the banner that was grabbed by the townswomen in fighting against the Portuguese in 1475, which has been celebrated since that day with wine at the expense of the Duke of Alba.

The Sanctuary of the Virgin of the Peña de Francia, El Cabaco, is a Marian shrine at the summit; an altitude of 1,723 metres (5,653 ft).

The Dominican fathers built a "lower house" in El Maíllo, a village near the base of the Peña de Francia, so as to be able to maintain the practices of the Virgin through the winter months.

Finally, the Convento de Gracia (Convent of Thanks) in San Martín del Castañar, a town near La Alberca, was founded in 1430 by the Franciscan Fathers and had great importance and influence on the environment for centuries.

Tapas like Jamon, Chorizo and Salami can be eaten at these bars and a custom involving the drinking of red water can be indulged in.

On August 15, the fiesta in honour of Our Lady of the Assumption is held, full of baroque splendour and colourful costumes and traditional folklore.

On January 17, the feast day of San Antonio (Saint Anthony), the pig is raffled off at the doors of the church.