Fascinating Cuenca: its most beautiful villages
Discovering the most beautiful villages of Cuenca is an experience. Although the capital and its hanging houses are among the most interesting visits, there are many other corners of this province of Castile La Mancha that are worth seeing.
Whether for its amazing nature, with jaw-dropping landscapes, or the fantastic rural atmosphere, at any time of the year it is fantastic to visit the most beautiful villages of Cuenca.
The castle of Belmonte dominates the surrounding lands from the heights. | Shutterstock
Located in the southwest of the province, Belmonte is a small town that stands out for a very well preserved medieval castle. It has been a fortress used for many films, so it is likely to be easily recognized.
It also highlights the Collegiate Church of San Bartolomé, a construction of Gothic style and great beauty. If the spectacular view offered by the castle is added to the tapestry of white houses with brown tiles that populate this town, Belmonte will transport you directly to another century in the history of Spain.
Strolling through the streets of El Provencio is very special. You don’t have to be very attentive to see the large murals decorated with comic book characters. It is right in this town where the International Comic Fair is held, being a great opportunity to explore all these works of urban art.
Apart from that, El Provencio also preserves with history, such as the King’s Bridge, one of the oldest in Cuenca, and the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, where you can sense the first traces of the Renaissance style.
Touring the surroundings of the castle of Uclés is a pleasant experience. | Shutterstock
With barely 200 inhabitants, Uclés is one of the most beautiful villages of Cuenca thanks to its ninth century castle. Jews, Arabs and Christians have passed through it, absorbing from each of these religions some detail that can be appreciated.
Together with the monastery, dating from the 16th century, are two must-sees for lovers of architecture. In the latter, different styles are intermingled, so it can be even fun to know which element belongs to each of them.
First came the castle, then the town. Hence the origin of the name Castillo de Garcimuñoz, a beautiful and very well preserved citadel. Garcimuñoz was a knight who accompanied King Alfonso VIII during the 12th century, being the first owner of this fortified enclave of Cuenca.
You can learn all the history of this medieval fortress by entering its rooms, where you can also find the Church of San Juan Bautista. Nearby is the Cross of Jorge Manrique and what little remains of the Convent of San Agustin.
Alarcón offers one of the most spectacular views in all of Cuenca. | Shutterstock
The castle of Alarcón has a very important strategic location, surrounded by the gorges of the Júcar river. This town, and its fortress, is a Parador Nacional, with one of the most wonderful views if you are looking for the perfect harmony between the medieval theme and nature.
It is also ideal for adventure sports, as the surroundings have ideal spaces for activities such as kayaking, canyoning and climbing. It has some very interesting hiking trails suitable for the whole family.
To the north of the province of Cuenca, and almost touching that of Guadalajara, is Priego. At a good altitude and surrounded by green mountains, it has a very interesting historical and cultural heritage. There are monuments of Arabic, Gothic and Renaissance style.
In Priego you can go from the beautiful Palace of the Counts to the House of the Inquisition, a space where macabre elements and stories related to this, so to speak, curious religious stage that was lived in Spain are exposed.
La Ruta de las Caras is a very curious open-air museum. | Shutterstock
Buendía’s fame is due to the Ruta de las Caras, a tour of its surroundings where you can find a handful of faces carved in stone. As artistic as they are curious, it is possible to enjoy this visit while you have the Buendía reservoir in the background.
Besides being one of the reasons why Buendía is one of the most beautiful villages of Cuenca, all the natural scenery it offers invites hikers to enjoy a day as pleasant as quiet in the nearby forests.
For those who enjoy visiting the heart of the villages, the urban center of San Clemente is full of monuments. Walking through its streets you can contemplate Renaissance palaces, convents, the well-known Torre Vieja (Old Tower) and even a Roman Arch.
Apart from being one of the towns where the Renaissance of La Mancha is best represented, San Clemente also offers a magnificent opportunity to enjoy the gastronomy of Castile La Mancha.
You can relive the epic story of Don Quixote watching these mills of Mota del Cuervo. | Shutterstock
Mota del Cuervo is known for being one of the towns in Cuenca through which the Route of Don Quixote passes. At the top of a hill there are several windmills, iconic elements offered by Cervantes’ wonderful novel.
Thanks to some wetlands, Mota del Cuervo offers a very beautiful natural landscape. Some of them, such as the Navalengua wetland or the Manjavacas Lagoon, are fed by the Saona and Záncara rivers.
With one of the most spectacular natural environments, Enguídanos is the perfect village to get lost in its green forest. Exploring it you can discover natural springs and pools, even beaches where you can bathe.
Walking a hiking route for a couple of hours and finding one of these to refresh yourself is a great reward for the effort. Thanks to this, it is one of the most interesting places in Cuenca for active tourism activities.
In spite of being an uninhabited town, its streets are alive thanks to the visit of the tourists. | Shutterstock
Moya is an abandoned village with a singular attraction. Without any inhabitant, you can enjoy a peaceful visit to the old town until the end of the last century and all the walled enclosure. Despite the abandonment, its castle fortress is very well preserved. Other buildings of interest are the church of La Trinidad and the town hall.
