On this page you will find information on the 24 villages of the Sierra de Albarracín, that, together with Albarracín itself, form the administrative region Comarca de la Sierra de Albarracín. The total area is 1,417 km2. Its population is 4.912 (2006).
We also included descriptions of Alobras, Cella and Tormón. Though not located in the Sierra de Albarracín, they are worth to be visited.
Distance from Albarracín: 41 km (55 minutos en coche) Altitude: 1.110 m. Population: 94
Alobras lies in the southern foothills of the Sierra de Albarracín. In its surroundings several springs can be found, most of which supply water for the watering place for the cattle. There is really only one building worth visiting, the renaissance-baroque church dating from the 17th century. This is compensated by the beautiful nature in the surroundings. De trip from Albarracín to Alobras leads through breath-taking landscapes. Objects of interest: In and around Alobras some prominent trees grow (holm oak, Portuguese oak, Spanish juniper, black pine, elm tree). The latter two can easily be found: Olmo de la Iglesia, the elm on the square in front of the church. In former times many villages had an elm on the village square. It formed the setting of many a ceremony (weddings, lawsuits, village feasts). As mycosis almost caused the distinction of the elms, this specimen is special. Pino ramudo, a very old black pine tree, the branches of which almost reach down to the ground. The lower part of the tree is almost completely hollow, because the wood was used for the fabrication of torches. Fire further deteriorated the condition of the tree. You can find it after approximately 2 km on the right hand side of the road (camino forestal or pista Cañigral) leading westward from Alobras.
Distance from Albarracín: 15 km (15 – 20 minutes by car) Altitude: 1.165 m. Population: 70
Objects of interest: Three archaeological excavations sites near the Regachuelo river (Tajada Bajera, Tajada de Enmedio and la Tajada Somera or Peña del Hierro). The 16th-century church.
At short distance from Bezas lies an encampment of the so-called “maquis”. Maquis were Spaniards who fought the Franco regime, starting during the Civil war (1936 – 1936) well into the 60s. Round the turn of the century it was opened to the public. Nature lovers will to come into one's own at the Bezas lagoon, a 4,5 ha pool with a rich fauna.
Distance from Albarracín: 28 km (30 minutos en coche) Altitude: 1.569 m. Population: 458
De Bronchales destaca su entorno natural. En los pinares del Puerto encontraremos el ecosistema del pino albar, con una gran variedad arbustiva y herbácea. Most striking when visiting Bronchales are the extensive woodlands, “El Puerto”. The most common tree here is the Scots pine, next to a wide variety of bushes and herbs. The “merenderos” (el Canto, el Chorrillo, la Colmena or la Sima) offer perfect opportunities for a picnic. With numerous springs located throughout the area it is no wonder Bronchales has a mineral water bottling plant.
CALOMARDE
Distance from Albarracín: 17 km (15 – 20 minutes by car) Altitude: 1.312 m. Population: 78
There are various springs in the surroundings of Calomarde. The streams flowing through the plain form the perfect habitat of the trout. Objects of interest: • The 17th century San Pedro Apóstol church with 2nd century Roman inscriptions. • “El Rollo” a stone arch, some 10 m high, approximately 4 km before the village, coming from Albarracín. • The Calomarde waterfalls (Cascadas del Molino Viejo), two km having passed El Rollo. • The “cañon the los arcos”, a canyon with many caves and impressive rock formations.
Distance from Albarracín: 23 km (25 minutes by car). Altitude: 1,023 m. Population: 3,030
Objects of interest • The 16th century Iglesia de la Inmaculada. This church has a gothic frontage and, as a consequence of a restoration, a baroque interior. • The town hall, 16th century, declared Cultural Heritage. • The various chapels (Ermita de la Virgen del Loreto from the 16th/17th century, Ermita de San Antonio, Ermita de San Clemente, Ermita de San Sebastián from the 16th century and the Ermita de San Pedro Arbués from the 18th century) • The “Fuente de Cella”, with 3,500 l/s the largest artesian spring in Europe (and second largest in the world). In the vicinity of Cella: • The Roman aqueduct dating from the 1st century AC, that acted as water supply system for a small Roman town that should be under the modern Cella. The intake took place at a point in the river Guadalaviar near Albarracín • The Cañizar lagoon, the second largest freshwater wetland in Spain after the National Park “Las Tablas the Daimiel” (Ciudad Real). It is possible to make trips through these wetlands, under guidance of experienced guides. • Various hiking tracks traverse Cella: • El camino del Cid, a trail that meanders over 2,000 km from Burgos to Alicante. • El camino del Santo Grail, a trail from San Juan the la Peña (Huesca) to Valencia, approximately 500 km, that follows the 15th century route of the Holy Grail. Nowadays, the grail can be visited at Valencia´s cathedral. • Vía verde de Ojos Negros, a 148 km trail along the route that was used to transport iron from the mines at Ojos Verde to the Valencia harbour.
EL VALLECILLO
Distance from Albarracín: 35 km (40 – 45 minutes by car). Altitude: 1,421 m. Population: 51
El Vallecillo is built on a slope on the right bank of the Cabriel river, the main tributary of the Júcar. In the Middle Ages there were 14 farmsteads in the El Vallecillo territory. This changed when the inhabitants decided to settle in one residential area, Val Longuiello. Objects of interest: • The 18th century Iglesia La Santísima Trinidad, made out of nature stone. • In the Lóbrega (or Úbriga) cave remnants of Neolithic age have been found. • The springs of the river Cabriel, near the springs of the Tagus (Fuente García). Near the so-called Ojos the Cabriel the flow increases considerably. • The waterfall near El Molino de San Pedro, one of the most beautiful sites of the Sierra of Albarracín.
Distance from Albarracín: 23 km (20 -25 minutes by car). Altitude: 1,496 m. Population: 181
In the sierra, only the municipality of Albarracín has a bigger area of woods. The vegetation is mostly Scots pine and juniper. Objects of interest: •The archaeological excavations that indicate livestock about 1,400 BC. •The source of the Tagus at 10 km from Frías •The “sima”, or sink-hole, formed by water dissolving the local limestone (karst). You will find the sima indicated on the right side of the road when driving from Frías to the source of the Tagus. • The 19th-century Iglesia de la Asunción
Distance from Albarracín: 13 km (10 minutes by car). Altitude: 1,031 m. Population: 435
Sus edificios más destacados son el Ayuntamiento, la Casa grande de los Reyes de Aragón (con interesantes pinturas murales), la iglesia barroca de San Bernardo y los conventos del Carmen y las Capuchinas. Objects of interest: •The town hall •La Casa Grande de los Reyes de Aragón •The baroque Iglesias San Bernardo •Two monasteries: Convento de los Carmelitas Descalzos and Convento de Monjas Capuchinas •Very much worth a visit is the Roman aqueduct Albarracín – Gea – Cella. The information centre is in Gea.
Distance from Albarracín: 35 km (35 - 40 minutes by car). Altitude: 1,604 m. Population: 136
Griegos is the highest village in the Sierra de Albarracín. At an altitude of 1,604 meters Griegos is also one of the highest villages in Spain. At short distance from Griegos lies a restaurant (Alto de La Muela de San Juan,) that could well be the highest restaurant in Spain opened all year round. (> 1800 m). It is not surprising that there are several cross-country skiing tracks that lead through beautiful landscapes. More information can be found on http://www.esquinordicolamuela.es/. Griegos was almost totally destroyed during the Spanish Civil War (1936 – 1939). Therefore it makes quite a modern appearance. Objects of interest: • The mountains of El Puerto and La Dehesa • The viewpoint el Mirador Alto de la Muela • In the meadows and pine tree forests and especially so on slopes southwest of Griegos bulls run loose. They are bred to star in “cultural and sportive events”.
GUADALAVIAR
Distance from Albarracín: 35 km (40 minutes by car). Altitude: 1,519 m. Population: 275
Here the river Guadalaviar (white river in Arabic) springs. After the junction with the Alfambra river it forms the Turia. The village has a long tradition in the field of livestock and the trashumancia, the seasonal north- south migration of livestock to suitable grazing grounds. Guadalaviar even has a museum dedicated to the trashumancia. Objects of interest: •The Iglesia Santiago from the 17th century. •The nature: the pine tree forests of la Dehesa Boyal, the El Gavilán canyon, the melt water spring “La Vasequilla”, la Cañada the los Ojos, la Dehesa del Río, Mojón Blanco, el Bercolar, la Umbría and finally the Montes Universales and the bordering Sierras de Cuenca and Molina.
Distance from Albarracín: 32 km (40 - 45 minutes by car). Altitude:1,405 m. Population: 82
Jabaloyas lies in a plain at the foot of the mountain Jabalón. Via oral tradition of the history of this village witchcraft plays an important role. In 2010 the first “Witch days of Jabaloyas” were held, organized by Teruel´s UNED (a kind of Open University) and the municipality. Objects of interest: •The Iglesia de la Asunción (15th century), the oldest of the sierra. The sacristy was plundered in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War (1936 – 1939). The woodcarvings on the doors are the only work of art that was spared. •Some mansions with gothic aspects: la Casa de la Sirena and la Casa de los Diezmos. •The top of the Jabalón offers a nice view over Jabaloyas.
MONTERDE
Distance from Albarracín: 17 km (20 minutes by car). Altitude: 1,280 m. Population: 54
The name Monterde seems to stem from a farmstead that Don Pedro Ruiz de Azagra, lord van Albarracín, gave to one of his knights whose family name was Monterde. The house of Monterde plays an important role in the history of Albarracín, but also in that of la Casa Grande: above the main entrance hangs the coat of arms of the line of Monterde.
MOSCARDÓN
Distance from Albarracín: 20 km (20 minutes by car). Altitude: 1,415 m. Population: 61
Moscardón is superbly located, on top of a cliff and towers over the Barranco de El Castellar, an extremity of the valley of Masegar. Moscardón is built on a strategic location: from here, el Andador, the highest (and oldest) tower of the Albarracín wall is visible. Objects of interest: •The town hall. •The Iglesia San Pedro Apóstol, 18th century, on top of a sheer cliff. •The old water basin/mill in two enormous buildings. •The nature: beautiful landscapes and geological phenomena like la Vega de la Hoya, los Pozuelos, the pine tree forest of la Cañada, la Muela, el Barranco del Recuenco and the stream Masegar.
NOGUERA DE ALBARRACÍN
Distance from Albarracín: 20 km (15-20 minutes by car). Altitude: 1,386 m. Population: 149 According to historians the name Noguera comes from Náxera, a town in the Rioja, place of birth of some of the conquerors of Noguera. As if to stress the appropriateness of the name several monumental walnut trees (nogueras in Spanish) grow in and around Noguera. Due to the big height differences near Noguera –the village lies at the foot of the higher part of the Sierra the Albarracín- various different microclimates exist and thus a big variety in flora. The rocks contain many minerals, especially iron. In the 19th century Noguera had a mine and an arms factory. Objects of interest: •The 18th century Iglesia San Miguel. On its façade it has a codex (eternal calendar), unique in Spain. •The nature: the vicinity of Noguera lends itself pre-eminently for hiking, cycling (both on the road and cross-country) or horseback riding.
POZONDÓN
Distance from Albarracín: 20 km (25 minutes by car). Altitude: 1,407 m. Population: 94 Pozondón is one of the northernmost villages in the Sierra de Albarracín. It is built on a plateau with a varied flora, a suitable habitat for various sorts of butterflies. A lot of game lives in the area surrounding Pozondón, that’s why it is so popular among hunters. Being located on a plain, there are no springs in the vicinity of Pozondón, nor is there any river nearby. In former times, a so-called aljibe (rainwater cistern) was used as water reservoir. These days, the aljibe still exists on the town square.Objects of interest: •The Iglesia Santa Catalina with its fortified tower that might have served as a fort. •On the way from Pozondón to Eulalia the Castillo de los Ares is indicated. This castle forms part of the northern line of defense of the seigniory of Albarracín (12th – 13th century). Nowadays only some remnants can be seen, amongst which a high tower, made out of sandstone. •Just before arriving at these ruins you can see signs indicating the Barranco de Cardoso. Here you can see a Peruvian work of art, made in the 80s of the 20th century. This enormous sculpture (6 m high, 4 m wide) was made by Mauro Mistiano.
RÓDENAS
Distance from Albarracín: 30 km (35 minutes by car). Altitude: 1,380 m. Population: 88 Ródenas is the northernmost village of the Sierra de Albarracín. What strikes most when looking at the village is the red colour of the houses. These are built using red sandstone, originating from the rocks north of Ródenas. In the Middle Ages, Ródenas had great strategic importance because of its position, close to the northern border of the Moorish Banu-Razín kingdom. The Ródenas cheese factory derives its milk from the cattle near Ródenas. Objects of interest: •The 10th century Moorish aljibe (water reservoir), excavated totally in the red sandstone. •The 16th century gothic-renaissance Iglesia Santa Catalina. Nowadays, from the original church (12e century) two restored chapels (13th century) have survived. •The 16th century chapel of la Virgen de los Poyales. •A big doline “Hoyon the Ródenas”, south of Ródenas. With a diameter of 150 m and a diameter of 50 m it is one of the most spectacular of the sierra. •Prehistoric figures, carved in sandstone.
RUBIALES
Distance from Albarracín: 30 km (40 - 45 minutes by car). Altitude: 1,167 m. Population: 53 Next to many types of pine trees, you can find many maple trees and juniper bushes. Therefore, for migratory birds, like the stork and the purple heron, which are attracted by the water from the pool “Balsa del Pinar”, this is a good nesting site. Object of interest: •The Iglesia de la Asunción from the 18th century...
SALDÓN
Distance from Albarracín: 23 km (30 - 35 minutes by car). Altitude: 1,395 m. Population: 29 Saldón is surrounded by plateaus that are covered by juniper trees of over 100 years of age, shrubs, juniper bushes and agricultural grounds. In the vicinity of Saldón there are various springs, like the Morisco spring, el Piejo and Majadilla. Objects of interest: •The Iglesia de la Asunción from the 16th century, restored in the 17th and 18th century.. •The juniper tree forest, the biggest in Europe. This is a rich fossil site where you can find ammonites, belemnites and bivalves.
TORIL AND MASEGOSO
Distance from Albarracín: 28 km (25 minutes by car). Altitude: 1,490/1,515 m. Population: 35 Toril and Masegoso are two residential precincts forming one municipality. Together with Valdecuenca it is the least populated municipality. Objects of interest: •The Iglesia San Abdón y Senén in Toril from the 17th century •The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Remedio in Masegoso from the 17th century •The nature surrounding Toril and Masegoso: the river Cabriel, that traverses the landscape, the springs Fuente del Prado and La Fuente Vieja, the pool Balsa Cañigral, the vantage points El Castillejo and Punta Rayo, the crevice Barranco de Arroyofrío, de pine tree forests Umbría Negra, the sima El Cañigral (sink-hole formed by water dissolving the local limestone.
TORMÓN
Distance from Albarracín: 47 km (55 minutes by car). Altitude: 1,059 m. Population: 43 The first thing which strikes when you approach Tormón is the enormous rock on the north side that towers over the village. In former times this rock held an observation post, nowadays only some remnants can be seen. The nature around Tormón is of breathtaking beauty. Any track in the area south of Tormón leads through wonderful landscapes. Objects of interest in the vicinity of Tormón: •The tejería, the remnants of a 19th century factory of tiles, directly beside the road to Alobras, about 2 km from Tormón. •The cave paintings (no less than 35 figures) of the “Prado de las Olivanas” are amongst the most beautiful of Spain. The distance as the crow flies is 4 km north of Tormón. A track that starts some 2.5 km in the direction of Rubiales leads to the paintings. •La Cueva de la Iglesia, in former times a cave, but since the top part collapsed it now consists of two enormous rock formations barely separated at the top. A beautiful track following the course of the Ebrón river leads to the Cueva de la Iglesia The river has eroded the sandstone, thus creating numerous excavations with quite remarkable forms. Birds use these hollows as nest sites. •Just south of Tormón lies the wonderful Calicanto waterfall. •The Puente de la Fonseca, a natural bridge over the Ebrón, connecting two aiguilles. •An 8 km walk, with large parts leading through the canyon of the Ebrón river along the path that used to connect El Cuervo and Tormón is an unforgettable experience.
TORRES DE ALBARRACÍN
Distance from Albarracín: 12 km (10 - 15 minutes by car). Altitude: 1,237 m. Population: 147 During some years at the end of the 17th century Torres was the capital of the Comunidad de Albarracín, a community of the 23 villages of the Sierra the Albarracín (the same as those of the Comarca Sierra de Albarracín except for Gea and Rubiales. In its surroundings there are some springs (Fuentecillas, Padillo, La Colmena en Fonfría). In 1648 a smithy was opened in Torres. Most of the ironwork that can be seen throughout the sierra nowadays was manufactured here. At the beginning of the 19th century the smithy was closed. Not only in the Sierra the Albarracín, but in the whole of Aragón, Torres is well known for its multitude of aficionados of the game “la Morra”. Objects of interest: •The 17th century Iglesia San Miguel •Remnants of the prehistoric settlement in los Villares •The pine tree forests in the surroundings of Torres.
TRAMACASTILLA
Distance from Albarracín: 15 km (15 minutes by car). Altitude: 1,260 m. Population: 125 Tramacastilla is the seat of the Comunidad de Albarracín, a community of the 23 villages of the Sierra the Albarracín. The mayors of these villages assemble in Tramacastilla. The village is located in a wide channel between the canyon of Argalla and the Guadalaviar plain where fruit and walnut trees grow and vegetables and herbs are cultivated. The sloping rocks opposite the village are a forerunner of the natural beauty what the visitor will encounter in the rocky area of the rugged and rocky Barroncohondo, Tramacastilla´s main object of interest.
VALDECUENCA
Distance from Albarracín: 19 km (25 – 30 minutes by car). Altitude: 1,331 m. Population: 35 Lots of houses in Valdecuenca are built using material that is typical for the region: red sandstone, the iron lattices in front of the windows and wood. Objects of interest: •The 16th century Iglesia San Nicolás. •The chapels of San Roque and La Purísima, both in gothic renaissance style. •The town hall. •The mansions in the Calle Eugenio Gómez and Calle del Horno.
VILLAR DEL COBO
Distance from Albarracín: 30 km (35 minutes by car). Altitude: 1,419 m. Population: 213 Villar del Cobo used to be one of the most important villages of the Albarracín municipality. The pasturelands in this region are very fertile, leading to a propsperous livestock. Objects of interest: •The 16th century church, made out of nature stone, is dedicated to the holy Justo and Pastor. In 2002 the church was declared Cultural Heritage by the Aragón government. •The chapel of la Virgen del Rosario. •La Casa Grande of Villar del Cobo from the 16th or 17th century. In former times this was the biggest house of the whole sierra. •The nature: Villar del Cobo has three access roads (direction Tramacastilla, Frias and Guadalaviar/Griegos). They all lead through magnificent landscapes, ideal for hikers and cyclists. In the vicinity of Villar del Cobo you can find several dolines.
