Cantavieja – Fortanete – La Iglesuela del Cid – Mirambel – Cañada de Benatanduz – Pitarque – Montoro
If you only have three days to get to know the Maestrazgo, here we propose a route through some of the must-see places in the region: Cantavieja, Fortanete, La Iglesuela del Cid, Mirambel, Cañada de Benatanduz, Pitarque, Montoro de Mezquita.
On the first day, we recommend starting with 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.
In the afternoon we recommend a visit to 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 the guided tour by contacting the Tourist Office.
For the second day we propose 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.
In the afternoon you can visit the “jewel between the walls“, as it is known Mirambel, 23 km from Iglesuela. 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.
If you still have time left on either of the two days, you can go to La Cuba where the Church of San Miguel Arcángel, the refrigerator and the curious Pellerich are worth a visit. You can also learn about the old esparto grass industry in which the population was employed in the past, in the Interpretation Center.
We started the third day with a brief stop at Cañada de Benatanduz which stands out for the view of the ravine offered by its viewpoints. Stop to contemplate the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, the building of the hospital for the poor and the old school, and the hermitages. In the hermitage of San Cristobal you have a good panoramic view of the town and a giant frame to take a good picture.
After this, we will head to Pitarque, 21.5 km from Cañada. On the way, the craggy figure of Villarluengo, located on the slopes of the Monte Santo mountain, is a surprise. If you want to know it in depth, take a look at option 2.
At Pitarque you can visit the Church of Santa María la Mayor and the washhouse. The trail to the source of the Pitarque River, declared a Natural Monument, begins in the town center, with a length of 10 km round trip. A must in Maestrazgo.
From here we will go to Montoro de Mezquita, 12.5 km from Pitarque. On the way we will be surprised by the Organs of Montoro, a wonder of nature and a Natural Monument, which can be enjoyed comfortably from the accessible viewpoint. The road leading to Los Órganos is a scenic road known as the The Silent Route. If you have the chance, you must visit it all, as it hides many surprises.
In Montoro de Mezquita we will walk along the circular route of the Valloré viewpoint and straits, 2.5 km long. Before leaving, walking through the village we will visit the Church of the Assumption, the cemetery and the old ceramic furnace.
Comarca del Maestrazgo • C/ Las Tres Baylias • 44140 Cantavieja (Teruel)
Phone: 964 185 242 • turismo@comarcamaestrazgo.org
