Alarcón

Alarcón is one of those places one can't understand why it isn't better known. It is a village with a fantastic history, in most cases linked to the castle. It's bathed and protected by the Jucar River and it has one of those peculiar silhouettes that every photographer dreams of.

The castle is preserved in a spectacular way and one cannot help but think of battles and armors. Alarcón had a period of great splendor followed by one of the complete opposite. Luckily, the building of the National Parador of Tourism (state-owned hotel) helped a lot and, since then, Alarcón slowly got back the significance it deserves.

Alarcón is a lovely village that seems to still be living in the Middle Ages. It is located in the higher part of a mountain, surrounded by a wall and dominated by a medieval castle, now turned into a hotel. The streets and stone houses are very charming. The village is small and you can walk it all in about 5 minutes. In the tourism office they offer guided visits around the village, the castle and various houses that, in the old days, belonged to noble people.

In Alarcón (also known as the "Unconquerable") one can enjoy the rich historical and artistic heritage of a fabulous and eminently medieval village thanks to the guided visits of the Kultur association. The two-hours long tour takes you to visit the 3 or 4 churches that remain standing: the Santa Trinidad Church (its first floor dates back to the 13th century), the San Juan Bautista Church (today it is not religious anymore and it houses the Center of Contemporary Art "Pintura Mural de Alarcón" by Jesús Mateo), and the Santa María Church, a parish church built entirely in the 16th century. Inside, you can enjoy treasures like the wonderful altarpiece from the 16th century.