Unveiling the secrets of Spain’s beautiful walled villages
While we were looking for some stunning getaways in Spain, we came across a wall. Or rather, a few walls. The walled villages of Spain have that medieval touch that makes any weekend getaway magical, taking us on a fascinating journey to the Middle Ages. History and heritage meet enchanting landscapes in the beautiful walled villages in Spain we are about to discover.
Albarracín. | Shutterstock
Considered as one of the most beautiful villages in Spain, Albarracín does not only stand out for its imposing walls. Situated 40 minutes from Teruel and surrounded by an impressive natural environment, this medieval jewel stands on top of a hill next to the river of Guadalaviar. Some essential places to visit there are the Andador tower, from the 10th century, the intriguing Crooked House on Calle del Chorro and the viewpoint from the cathedral.
Urueña. | Shutterstock
With less than 200 inhabitants, the cultural activity in Urueña is quite surprising. About 45 minutes away from Valladolid, we will come across a wall and some ruins of a castle from the 12th century. One can even tour through all the medieval alleys and slowly fall in love with the place. It will take a while to go through all its streets, because Urueña was the first Spanish town to be recognized as a “Villa del Libro”. In fact, they have more bookshops than bars!
Morella. | Shutterstock
100 kilometres from the city of Castellón we find a walled town that maintains not only medieval traces, but of older times of Iberians, Romans and Visigoths too. It will take us even further if we go into the prehistoric caves with cave paintings which are now a World Heritage Site. Its 2 kilometres of wall were built in the fourteenth century, at the same time as its aqueduct, but a century after the construction of its famous castle. All of this makes Morella one of the most beautiful walled villages in Spain.
Olivenza. | Shutterstock
This border town located in Extremadura is only half an hour from the city of Badajoz. Spain and Portugal have had several conflicts throughout history regarding this place, so we are not surprised by its walled perimeter, nor by its fortress or castle. If we enter through one of its ancient doors, we find a medieval villa that looks like a set from a movie.
Niebla. | Shutterstock
It is one of the most fascinating getaways near the city of Huelva. Niebla, a town of about 4000 inhabitants, takes pride in having the best-preserved walled enclosure in Spain. The wall of Niebla has a perimeter of 2 kilometres and 40 towers, and some of its 4 doors let us go inside to discover the castle of the Guzmanes, among other things.
Buitrago de Lozoya. | Shutterstock
The panoramic view of Buitrago de Lozoya is as impressive as its walled enclosure and its city centre. This town, located 75 kilometres north of Madrid, is at the foot of the Sierra de Guadarrama and is surrounded by the Lozoya River, just like in a fairy tale. Its walls are of Muslim origin and have a perimeter of about 800 meters. It has all the elements to defend itself, like towers, barbican and a moat. And inside, of course, there is the castle or fortress, a Gothic-Mudejar construction of the 15th century. It is one of the most beautiful walled villages in Spain.
Burgo de Osma. | Shutterstock
Just about 40 minutes from Soria lies this beautiful village called Burgo de Osma. Its walled enclosure is one of its main attractions and some sections are still in a very good shape. The wall was built in the 15th century by order of the then bishop Pedro de Montoya, and remained intact for more than three centuries. Only one of its doors remains, the door of San Miguel, which allows us to enter that medieval era to tour the cathedral of the Assumption, the old hospital of San Agustín or the University of Santa Catalina.
Sos del Rey Católico. | Shutterstock
Although in the province of Zaragoza, Sos del Rey Católico is closer from Pamplona, about 45 minutes from the town. It plays the same role of a border town it played back in the day between the kingdoms of Navarre and Aragon, and hence its walled enclosure, with 7 doors that are still preserved. But Sos del Rey Católico is not known precisely for its walls, but for being the birthplace of Fernando II, the Catholic Monarch.
Even though Sos Rey Católico is a small place, entering its historic centre is a magical and very intense experience. The historical vibes still present there make us enjoy visiting the Jewish quarter, the Medieval Lonja or the palace of the Sada, the place where they say that the monarch was born and that now hosts an Interpretation Centre dedicated to the king.
Peñíscola. | Shutterstock
It is almost inevitable to associate the name of Peñíscola with sun and beach tourism, and we will not deny that traveling to this town in the province of Castellón in high season always charms us with its medieval character. And the truth is that Peñíscola has one of the most interesting historic centres in Spain. It is well known for its castle, which is known as the castle of Papa Luna, built in the 15th century.
Where there is a castle, there is a wall, and Peñíscola does not disappoint us in that sense either. The walled enclosure is very special because you can perfectly distinguish the different historical eras in which the wall was built according to the needs of the time period. Back then, the door of Sant Pere connected the castle directly to the sea through a pier, something unusual in this type of fortifications.
