Benamonarda - guided walking: Cuenca, Teruel, Maestrazgo

WALKING HOLIDAYS IN EAST SPAIN:
Alto Maestrazgo and...

Mountains & Cities of Cuenca-Teruel
Guided walking, history, landscapes — small international group — east-central Spain

Walking in the unknown heart of Spain, the mountains of the Iberian Cordillera: fantastic gorges and weird rock formations, arid plateaux and immense pine forests, isolated villages and intriguing small cities...

ONE WEEK Activities: discovery of east-central Spain — 5 mountain walks of 4-6 hours on (sometimes steep and/or stony) footpaths with a few 'off path' sections. Denivellations 300-600m a day. Guided visits to Cuenca and its Serranía, Albarracín, Peracense and Teruel. Group 10 maximum.

FULL BOARD EXCEPT 2 EVENING MEALS (1 in Cuenca, 1 in Albarracín), in hotels in twin rooms (private baths): two nights in bustling Cuenca and five in Albarracín, walled 'city-village' of only 1000 inhabitants.

PRICE 775 euros per person; single room supplement 135 euros.

DATES (Sunday-Sunday)
2010 17-24 October [can be combined with 'Alto Maestrazgo']
2011 29 May-5 June [can be combined with 'Alto Maestrazgo']

RENDEZVOUS Cuenca station/bus station. We recommend that you travel via Madrid: major international airport, also direct overnight train from Paris. There are several daily bus and train services between Madrid and Cuenca (you should book a flight arriving by 13.30). On the last day there are trains and buses from Teruel to Madrid (book a flight with check-in at 14.00 or later) or Valencia. Please ask us for travel information.
DISPERSAL Teruel.

Location of this programme:

DAY-TO-DAY
SUNDAY: Late afternoon rendezvous (at the station), dinner and night at Cuenca.

MONDAY: We explore the old city of Cuenca, perched over a vertiginous canyon of the río Júcar, then travel into the Serranía de Cuenca to the spectacular karst formations of Las Torcas and the Ciudad Encantada (a short walk at each). Second night at Cuenca with free time for a stroll or shopping.

TUESDAY: By forest roads through the heart of the Serranía de Cuenca, to the verdant source of the río Cuervo, the lake of El Tobar which wonderfully mirrors the surrounding cliffs and trees, and, time permitting, an easy climb to the summit of the Serranía de Cuenca, Mogorrita (1866 m/6122 ft): tremendous views of the southern Iberian mountains. Five nights at Albarracín.

WEDNESDAY: Visit of Albarracín then circular walk with striking views of this tiny city and its natural protection of the cliffs and gorges of the Melguizo. Dinner of 'tapas' and delicias de Teruel in the romantic Mediaeval quarter of Albarracín.

THURSDAY: The bleak but beautiful uplands of the Montes Universales (named for the curious communal system under which the land was held) are intersected by several gorges, including that of the Fuente del Berro. Lunch at the inn of the aptly-named Frías de Albarracín, one of the highest villages (1460 m/4790 ft).

FRIDAY: Morning walk in the high Sierra del Tremedal, quartzite mountains with the world's biggest "rivers of blocks". Picnic; visit to Peracense castle and to Teruel, renowned for its hams which have their own denominación de origen. We admire the city's elegant Mudéjar towers and cathedral artesonado.

SATURDAY: Walk in the Parque Cultural del Rodeno de Albarracín, unusual sandstone scenery with rock shelters decorated with prehistoric paintings.

SUNDAY: Transfer to Teruel, or continuation with 'Alto Maestrazgo'.

Special price for combining 'M&C Cuenca-Teruel' and 'Alto Maestrazgo' [see below]: 13 nights (Sunday-Saturday) 17-30 October 2010 or 29 May-11 June 2011, for 1345 euros (single supplement 250 euros).

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El Alto Maestrazgo
Guided walking, history, landscapes — small international group — east-central Spain

In Aragón, north-east of Teruel, survives a remarkable little region where time seems to have stood still since the Middle Ages. In the midst of the wild beauty of their mountains and gorges, the Maestrazgo villages retain the peaceful charm and harmony of the past, with their walls, towers and castles, their elegant Aragonese houses and 'plazas mayores'...

ONE WEEK (SATURDAY-SATURDAY) or 6 NIGHTS (SUNDAY-SATURDAY)

Activities: 5 mountain walks of 3h30-7h on (sometimes steep and/or stony) paths with a few 'off path' sections. Denivellations 400-700m a day. Visits to the enchanting Maestrazgo villages; an excursion with a short walk. Group 10 maximum.

FULL BOARD in hotels in twin rooms (private bathrooms), in 3 Mediaeval centres:
2 nights at Albarracín, 4 at Mirambel and 1 at Cuenca.

DATES (Saturday or Sunday to Saturday)
2010 23 or 24-30 October [can be combined with 'M&C Cuenca-Teruel'].
2011 4 or 5-11 June [can be combined with 'M&C Cuenca-Teruel'].

PRICE SAT-SAT: 775 euros per person; single room supplement 135 euros;
SUN-SAT: 695 euros per person; single room supplement 115 euros.

RENDEZVOUS Teruel station/bus station. We recommend you travel via Madrid: major international airport, overnight train from Paris. A suitable bus (fare about 20 euros) leaves Madrid at 14.00 for Teruel, which is also accessible by train changing at Zaragoza. Also possible: flight to Valencia and train or bus to Teruel. On the last day there are trains and buses from Cuenca to Madrid (book a flight with check-in at 14.00 or later) or Valencia. Ask us for travel information.

DISPERSAL Cuenca.

Location of this programme:

DAY-TO-DAY
SATURDAY: Late afternoon rendezvous at Teruel. Transfer to Albarracín for our first 2 nights.

SUNDAY: A day exploring the Mudéjar architecture of the Jiloca: Daroca, with a walk round its gigantic city wall, Navarrete and San Martín del Río. For those joining us today, afternoon rendezvous at Teruel. Night at Albarracín.

MONDAY: Entering the Maestrazgo, we stop at Cantavieja for the spectacular walk of El Río y la Sierra, then visit La Iglesuela del Cid, before arriving at Mirambel, our base for 3 nights. These villages recall the Knights Templars and those of St John, and the 19th century Carlist rebels.

TUESDAY: The long ridge of the Sierra Cañada, a natural balcony overlooking the gorges of the Cañón de Pitarque. Return via the río Guadalope and the impressive limestone needles of the Organos de Montoro.

WEDNESDAY: Walk of the río Tornos: across the wild high plateaux, cut by abrupt canyons, with here and there the red-tiled roof of an isolated mas or ermita, a flock of sheep or a band of Griffon vultures. Lunch at Tronchón before continuing back to Mirambel by the narrow camino real following the river.

THURSDAY: The delightful villages of Mosqueruela, Puertomingalvo and Rubielos de Mora. A walk on the heights of the Sierra de Gúdar (Alto del Hornillo, 2002 m): panorama of this sierra with its wooded cliffs, gorges and rich pastures. Night at the tiny spa village of Camarena de la Sierra.

FRIDAY: Ascent from Camarena to the emblematic summit of Javalambre (2020 m/6627 ft), highest peak of the Southern Iberian mountains: magnificent views and 'alpine' flowers. Transfer via the Turia and Cabriel gorges to Cuenca city for our last night, with 'tapas' dinner.

SATURDAY: Dispersal at Cuenca.

Special price for combining 'M&C Cuenca-Teruel' [see above] and 'Alto Maestrazgo': 13 nights (Sunday-Saturday) 17-30 October 2010 or 29 May-11 June 2011, for 1345 euros (single supplement 250 euros).