The Region Comunidad de Teruel has hosted at its headquarters the official presentation of the Ruta de los Pilones (GR 265), a historical and hiking itinerary that connects the city of Teruel with La Iglesuela del Cid, in the region of Maestrazgo, through landscapes of great natural, cultural and ethnographic value.
The presentation was attended by the Minister of Environment and Tourism of the Government of Aragon, Manuel Blasco; the Secretary General of the Government Subdelegation in Teruel, Rodrigo Esteban; the President of the Region of Teruel Community, José Herrero; and the President of the Region of Maestrazgo, Fernando Safont, as well as institutional representatives of the territory.
During the event, the promotional video of the route was projected, which allowed the attendees to know in a visual way the main attractions of this route, as well as its rich heritage and landscape. Also, during the presentation, the content of the official website of the Camino de los Pilones was shown and explained, where detailed information on the stages, services and resources available to plan the route is collected.
During his speech, José Herrero emphasized that “the Ruta de los Pilones is an example of how to value our historical and natural heritage to generate opportunities in rural areas, offering a sustainable and quality tourism resource”.
For his part, Manuel Blasco stressed “the importance of initiatives such as this, which contribute to structuring the territory, recovering historical roads and positioning Aragon as a reference destination in nature tourism”.
Along the same lines, Rodrigo Esteban pointed out that “this type of project adds value to the rural environment and reinforces the collaboration between administrations to promote the development of the territory”.
Finally, Fernando Safont emphasized the joint nature of the project, stressing that “the Ruta de los Pilones symbolizes the union between regions and the shared commitment to a sustainable tourism model that takes advantage of our natural and cultural resources”.
The Ruta de los Pilones, signposted as GR 265, recovers an ancient bridle path used for centuries as a means of communication between Aragon and the Levant. Its name comes from the characteristic stone pylons, more than two meters high, which mark the route at regular intervals and served as a reference for travelers and shepherds in adverse weather conditions.
In its route through the region of the Community of Teruel, the route is structured in three stages totaling about 48 kilometers, passing through enclaves such as Valdecebro, Corbalán, El Pobo, Cedrillas and Allepuz. From there it continues through the Maestrazgo region, passing through Villarroya de los Pinares, Fortanete, Cantavieja and La Iglesuela del Cid, where it ends at the border with Castellón after 48 kilometers more.
In addition, the Camino de los Pilones has an official website where users can plan their route, learn about the stages and access practical information for the route. Likewise, the itinerary has a network of collaborating establishments -lodging and local services- that facilitate the traveler’s experience along the route, and prior reservation is recommended given the limited offer in some municipalities.
As an added element, the route incorporates a “walker’s passport”, which allows users to stamp their passage through the different municipalities, thus encouraging the complete route and the connection with the territory.
The Comarca Comunidad de Teruel has financed this action with FITE 2023 funds, while the Comarca del Maestrazgo has executed this action under the FITE 2021 and FITE 2023 programs. Thanks to this collaboration, the recovery, signage and promotion of this historic road as a strategic resource for tourism and territorial development has been carried out.”
“This action has been financed with FITE funds. The Comarca Comunidad de Teruel has invested 65,000 € from the FITE 2023, while the Comarca del Maestrazgo has allocated 100,000 € from the FITE 2021 and 24,000 € from the FITE 2023. Thanks to the collaboration of both, the recovery, signage and promotion of this historic road as a strategic resource for tourism and territorial development has been carried out”.
With this initiative, the Comarca Comunidad de Teruel and the Comarca del Maestrazgo reinforce their commitment to a model of sustainable tourism, based on the enhancement of natural and cultural heritage, and invite the public to discover the Ruta de los Pilones, a route that allows you to follow in the footsteps of travelers from centuries past.
