Cuenca, Spain

Walks over the precipice, Hanging Houses and Gothic temples are among the many attractions that await tourists in the Spanish town of Cuenca. Here we find peace and adrenaline, nature and history.

Spain has much more to offer than beaches and siesta. Tourists who prefer long walks (not necessarily a boardwalk as smooth as a table) will sooner or later find their way to the central part of the country, to the Castilla-La Mancha region. Here, on the Jucar River, the small town of Cuenca is located. As it is located quite far from the main roads, you can rest there in silence.

Suspended over the abyss

Cuenca is located in the foothills of Sistema Iberico. Although it looks calm, you can experience moments of terror in it, especially when we allow ourselves a moment of inattention. The old part of the city is spread over the gulf between the two rivers, Huecar and Jucar. One of the main attractions here are three 15th-century buildings. These are Casas Colgadas, or Hanging Houses . They stand (or - as the name suggests - hang) at the very edge of the cliff. They are intriguing, but not everyone would choose to live in one of them on a daily basis.

We can admire the Hanging Houses while standing on the Puente de San Pablo. They are home to El Museo de Arte Abstracto Español - one of the best contemporary art museums in Spain. It is located in close proximity to Plaza Mauor, the square with the town hall and the Gothic cathedral, Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Gracia. Please note that you must not take photos of the inside of it.

Monuments of Cuenca

Due to the wealth of monuments, Cuenca has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. There are numerous Renaissance and medieval religious buildings in the city that are worth exploring. The stone streets are lined with long labyrinths, passing numerous squares and fountains standing here and there. The charm of the town is enhanced by a large number of viewpoints from which you can admire the surroundings.

Tourists who decide to come to Cuenca and get acquainted with its attractions, should equip themselves with comfortable footwear. A walk between the historic buildings of the Old Town involves the necessity of maneuvering up or down steep steps. Many people can get tired of it, but the trip will pay off because the landscapes are amazing.

Where to stay

While in Madrid, you can easily get to Cuenca - there is a very good train connection between the cities. If, however, we travel through Spain with our own vehicle, we can plan the trip in such a way as to get to know the area from different sides. We can stay for the night at Camping Caravaning Cuenca , located approx. 7 km north of the city. A stand for a vehicle costs EUR 6.60 / day, and an adult's stay - EUR 5.50 / day. The campsite has, among others, grocery store and playgrounds. Guests can use bathrooms (they are adapted to the needs of disabled people) and a jacuzzi.

After resting, you can get acquainted with the charms of the province. These include the multi-colored murals in the Centro de Arte Pintura Mural in the village of Alarcón, under the official patronage of UNESCO. The town also attracts tourists with four historic churches and a castle built in the 8th century, which now houses a four-star hotel.

Seven historic windmills stand on a hill near Mota del Cuervo. If someone visits the town on the first Sunday of the month, they will learn about the traditional process of grinding grain into flour ( molienda) . Within 20 minutes you will reach Belmonte, where you can see the castle and the gothic church of Iglesia Coleg and al de san Bartolomé, and about 50 km further there is the Segóbriga archaeological park with an amphitheater, thermal baths and acropolis.

As you can see, there are many attractions in the province of Cuenca that are worth paying more attention to. The holiday will surely be successful.