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Matarranya Walking Route
Parrizal At Beleceite
Valderrobres
The luxurious Torre del Visco
This undiscovered, historic region where the ancient kingdoms of Aragon, Catalonia and Valencia met is defined by the mountains of the Maestrazgo to the West and the Puertos de Beceite, Picasso's inspiration, to the East. This Spanish equivalent of Tuscany, the pretty medieval villages are set in a patchwork of almonds, olives and vines, rivers winding through the valleys and hill top hermitages ... a world where time stood still.
Enchanting and striking, the Matarranya is wonderful walking country. Once the scene of some of the most important struggles in Spanish history - El Cid laid siege to the Moors in Morella, and later Carlists crossed swords with Liberals here - nowadays the hills are gloriously silent, the crumbling fortress built by the Templars standing guard over a landscape untouched by the march of time.
La Caixa is an emblematic mountain, better known for its curious shape which is similar to that of a shoe box than for its altitude of 1,000 metres. It is also known for the many legends that exist about it, all based on history or myth. To reach La Caixa, the route starts out in Valderrobres, at the crossroads and taking the direction of Fuentespalda. After about 2 kilometres take a turning to the reservoir of Pena: this is a dirt track that runs through a pine forest to the reservoir. The path follows the course of the river Pena, where one can see many animals such as starlings, vultures or rabbits.
Les Gubies (cutting utensils used by ebony carvers) are a series of impressive pointed rocks that rise up over the surrounding landscape. The route starts off from Beceite towards Parrizal.
Las Rocas del Masmut (1,050 m) are an impressive set of congomerates whose rock faces have a difference in level of over 100 metres, where a colony of griffon vultures live and where there are also many climbing routes fully fitted for those who enjoy practising this sport. The route starts out at the chapel of Virgen de la Fuente in Peñarroya de Tastavins, which was declared a National Monument in the year 1931. The building is Gothic and has some of the most important Mudejar coffering work in all Aragón.
In the last few years, old country houses in Fuentespalda, Valderrobres and Torre del Compte and mills (Peñarroya de Trastavins and Rafales) have been carefully restored and converted into welcoming and genuine hotels that serve traditional cuisine.