Four days in the region of Maestrazgo
If you want to know the Maestrazgo region and you only have four days to discover it, here we propose a route plan so you do not miss some of its most significant places.
On the first day, we recommend starting with Mirambelknown as “a jewel within the walls“. The town is a historic-artistic site and has been awarded the Europa Nostra prize for heritage conservation. Its walled enclosure is one of the best preserved in the province of Teruel. Discover all its nooks and crannies with the guided tour, with which you will also enter the Convent of the Augustinian Nuns, an essential visit. And if you like movies, Ken Loach’s “Tierra y Libertad (Land and Freedom)“ was filmed in Mirambel, and you can get to know its scenery thanks to this route.
We will continue to know Cantavieja declared a historic-artistic site, making the guided tour, in addition to walking through its stately streets and its beautiful arcaded square, access to the interior of places of interest such as the Church of the Assumption, the Church of San Miguel, the town hall and the Calvary. You can also get to know the bell tower and the refrigerator by asking at the Tourist Office. There you will also find the Museum of the Carlist Wars, which you cannot miss.
To end the day we suggest you to visit Fortanete known as “the hidden jewel of Maestrazgo“, 18 km from Cantavieja. This village hides beautiful buildings such as the Church of the Purification, the town hall or the house of the Loras, in addition to the curious place of the orchards. We recommend a walk along the circular path of the “Vuelta a las ermitas” to get an idea of the natural heritage of the town. You can also take a guided tour by contacting theTourist Office.
On the second day we propose you to visit La Iglesuela del Cid declared a historic-artistic site. It is ideal to do it with a guided tour to access the interior of the Church of the Purification, the imposing Aliaga House, the old dungeon, and the Hospedería. If you want to know more about the history of the town contact the Tourist Office to visit the hermitage of the Virgen del Cid and the Ibero-Roman archaeological site.
And you can not leave without doing the Ruta de la Piedra Seca (Dry Stone Route), of about 7 kms, or the interpreted hiking trails that are offered in season at the Office.
We will continue towards Villarluengo 40 km from Iglesuela. Before arriving, you will be surprised by its steep figure located at the foot of the Montesanto mountain. Here we will make our last stop to see the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, the trinquete, the town hall, the washhouse and the viewpoints, which allow us to look out over the ravine of the Cañada River that borders the town, highlighting the one known as Balcón de los Forasteros (Strangers’ Balcony). On the outskirts you will find the hermitages of San Bartolomé and San Cristóbal as well as the ruins of the Convent of Montesanto, where you can approach following the marked path.
The first stop on the third day will be at the viewpoint of the Órganos de Montoro, declared a Natural Monument. We will follow the road to Pitarque, where you can visit the Church of Santa María la Mayor and the washing place. The trail to the source of the Pitarque River, also declared a Natural Monument, begins in the town center, with a length of 10 km round trip. It is one of the star excursions of the region.
From Pitarque we will go to Tronchón, 30 km away, known for its famous cheese already mentioned in Don Quixote. Declared a historic-artistic site for its significant architectural heritage, you can visit the Church of Santa Maria Magdalena, the dungeon, the old school and the town hall. You can’t miss the old hospital, the washhouses and the ceramic ovens. If you feel like walking a bit, the path of Vuelta a las ermitas allows you to reach the hermitages of Tremedal and Santa Ana, from where the views of the town are unbeatable.
The fourth and last day we will start in Castellote also declared a historical site. Do not miss the Church of the Virgen del Agua, the Templar Tower, the Church of San Miguel Arcángel, the hermitage of San Macario and the old washhouse. In addition, we recommend you to do the Tour of the castle and the Watchtower of Castellote and visit the Hermitage of Llovedor. Consult the schedules for the guided tours at theTourist Office.
Next, we will visit Las Cuevas de Cañart a historic-artistic site. Strolling through its streets you will find the Church of San Pedro, the Hermitage of San Blas, the Virgen de los Pueyos, the Convent of the Conceptionists or the arches of the Jewish quarter among other places, highlighting the ruins of the Convent of the Servite monks, with attached Interpretation Center. You can also visit the medieval tombs, the refrigerator and the flour mill, which are part of the GR 8.1 trail (stage 3).
If you would like to know more about the heritage of this town, visit the Interpretation Center.
Finally, we will go into Molinos, where we will find the well known Crystal Caves with two visitable rooms where you can discover the many types of speleothems it houses: stalactites, stalagmites, lava flows, flags, etc.. To visit them, check schedules and rates on the website. We will make a last stop in the village to see some places of interest such as the Gothic Church of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves, the bell tower and the magnificent ravine of San Nicolás.
If you have time, we recommend you to visit some of the villages of Castellote: Abenfigo, Las Planas, Dos Torres de Mercader, Luco de Bordón and Ladruñan.
Comarca del Maestrazgo • C/ Las Tres Baylias • 44140 Cantavieja (Teruel)
Phone: 964 185 242 • turismo@comarcamaestrazgo.org
