10 essential sites: what to see and do in La Alcarria (Guadalajara)

You sure know that Trip to the Alcarria It is one of the most famous stories of whoever Nobel Prize, Camilo José Cela.

In it he narrates his journey and the adventures he experienced during his visit to the natural region of the Alcarria in the Guadalajara province.

In recent months I had already made some getaways to corners of that province very close to Madrid, specifically to the black towns already the historical Sigüenza.

I recently had the opportunity to participate in a tourism trip which emulated the route that he took in the spring of 1946 This unfortunatly , during which in a weekend We have visited several of the famous enclaves trip to Alcarria This unfortunatly .

The best things to see and do on a trip to La Alcarria in Guadalajara

Below I will detail the most prominent places what you can visit on your getaway to this literary travel route awarded by the Guadalajara province.

Torija in La Alcarria

Just like you did Camilo José Cela, we started our trip in the city of Guadalajara, and from there we advanced to our first stop, which we made in the town of Tory, more specifically in his castle.

Inside it we could see a museum dedicated to the journey of the Nobel Prize.

El Torija castle It has its origins in Roman times, since they already built a watchtower from which they could control all the surrounding territories against possible enemy attacks.

At museum dedicated to the Journey to Alcarria we can find original parts that describe This unfortunatly in his book, in addition to a facsimile that he gave to his friend Jesus Campoamor  which he donated to the deputation and now it is in the museum.

Camilo José Cela agreed to donate to the deputation a collection of different editions of his book to be displayed in exchange for his friend Jesus was in charge of founding and managing it, which he did with the help of the deputation.

Furthermore, within the Torija museum you will find a summary of the natural heritage of the Guadalajara province.

Brihuega in La Alcarria

Continuing our journey we arrive at the town of brihuega, where we saw the gardens of the Royal Cloth Factory with great tradition and importance for the area, from where we could see a beautiful panoramic view of the town.

Within the same town we find the church of San Felipe which dates back to the first quarter of the 12th century and was used during the Civil War as a warehouse or barn; In 1943 the roof collapsed, forcing its restoration.

El Nobel He tells us in his book how he arrived at the town and rested in the Heras Park before entering the Chain Gate, which is one of the remains of the medieval wall currently restored.

This door gave way to the Fountain of the Twelve Pipes from the 18th century in whose back part was the the white laundry which was part of the policy of water connection and creation of sources of illustration.

As a curiosity, a legend says that marriageable women who drink from the twelve pipes find a partner.

Although one of the things that surprised us most in brihuega is visit to the Arab Caves (entrance, 2 euros) which are located in the Coso square, in which markets have been held since the 13th century.

Built in the 10th and 11th centuries, these caves are galleries of a total of eight kilometers that were used as a warehouse for the city, but above all to protect itself from attacks, in addition to having access to the outside of the city walls.

We couldn't leave brihuega without knowing the church of Santa María de la Peña and its north façade that was altered in the 16th century with the Cardinal Tavera, which points more to the Gothic than to the Romanesque after its reconstruction.

It should also be noted that the surroundings of Brihuega have become in recent times a place highly visited by tourists during the lavender flowering time, in July.

Civic in La Alcarria

On way to Masegoso de Tajuña We made a brief stop at civic, an old abandoned village halfway between the two towns.

This village is excavated in the rock, in addition to having natural sources that flow from the rock forming beautiful waterfalls that flow into the Tajuna River.

Masegoso de Tajuña in La Alcarria

In this town, the first thing we did was regain strength in what I believe is the only restaurant in the small town of Masegoso, Las Vegas, which is really worth recommending for the tasty lamb we tasted.

En Masegoso de Tajuña We made a quick visit to the Museum of the Shepherd and the Plowman, where you could see what the tillage techniques used in the area.

This museum recreates a typical farm house where they show you from the kitchen rooms, where people, in addition to eating, used it as an area in which to warm themselves and hang and dry the products of the slaughter, to the utensils with which they collected the crops and prepared the products of the field. .

Cifuentes in La Alcarria

In the next stage on the route of trip to Alcarria de Camilo José Cela we meet the town of Cifuentes, which takes its name from the river that crosses the town.

This town is crowned, on one side, by the church of the savior of the 13th century, and to the other, the Cifuentes castle, which was the house of the cCifuentes waves.

Although the authentic jewel of the town is the cover of Santiago in the Church of the Savior, which mixes different architectural styles such as Gothic, Romanesque, Renaissance and Baroque.

The Jacobean Wool Route, which is one of the oldest commercial routes on the peninsula, a road used since the end of the Middle Ages by sheep shepherds and honey producers to attend the fairs in Burgos and Medina del Campo.

Camilo José Cela portrayed Cifuentes as “a beautiful, happy town, with lots of water and women with deep, black eyes.”

Trillo in La Alcarria

The first day on our route Trip to the Alcarria ends with the visit of the town of Trillo where we spent the night in the local spa.

The next day we started the day with a visit to its spectacular Cataracts.

Then we skip some of the stages of the book by following the route by car, from where we see the well-known Viana's tits, two twin mountains that preside over the area.

After passing the town of The door, we arrive at monsalud monastery.

Monsalud Monastery in La Alcarria

This monastery is located in the town of Corcoles, and it is a place full of history, as our guide told us, who brought the current ruins to life.

El Monastery of Santa María de Monsalud It is also located in the aforementioned Camino de Santiago de la Lana, so in the past it was an area of ​​commercial importance.

The monastery had rooms for pilgrims and other exclusive rooms for religious worship for the monks who lived there.

La Virgin of Monsalud She was one of the virgins who had the most miracles codified in the 18th century with attributions to health, love and those possessed by demons.

We also visited the exhibition “Witches of Alcarria” and the caves of the old monastery once used as wine cellars.

La entrance with guided tour It costs 2 euros and gives you access to visit the Roman site of Ercávica in addition to the remains of the monastery.

Here you can consult the Monsalud Monastery visiting hours.

Recópolis archaeological park in Zorita de Canes

Continuing our way through the route of the Journey to Alcarría, we arrive at the town of Zorita de Canes, where we made three small visits within the Recópolis archaeological park.

We start with the interpretation Center, where we could see a small museum where we learned about the history of the area and how the Visigoth civilization and later civilizations evolved in it.

Then we climbed the mountainside until we reached the top where we found the archaeological remains of Recópolis.

It is a ancient visigothic city in which we saw the sites of the excavations carried out, which until now have only brought to light barely 10 percent of the surface that the city occupied in its day.

It should be noted that in Recopolis No remains of previous civilizations have been found, just some Roman remains in the surroundings, and subsequently only three cultures passed through, the Visigoths between the 6th and 7th centuries; the Muslims until the 9th century; and from there, the Christians.

The city is created around two intersecting streets, which generated all the activity. A wall delimited the city, and crowning the area, a church with three naves.

In the 14th century the city was completely abandoned, and in the 15th century a hermitage was built on the remains of the Christian church in honor of the Virgin of the Olive.

Zorita de los Canes Castle

The last visit we made within the town was that of Zorita de los Canes Castle.

Located at the top of a hill, it was important for its strategic characteristics as it was flanked in front by the taj riverI hear from behind by him Badido stream.

This castle passed through several hands since it was located in an area of ​​great importance in the wars between Arabs and Christians during the time of the reconquest.

Pastrana in La Alcarria

We finalize our own Trip to the Alcarria In the town of Pastrana, where in addition to walking through its medieval streets we visited its church-collegiate church.

Of the latter it is worth highlighting the altarpiece dedicated to ten women holy martyrs from the 3rd century, without forgetting the Tabernacle of the Assumption, virgin to whom the church is dedicated.

But, without a doubt, in the visit to the Collegiate Church of Pastrana One of the things that impressed us the most was the exhibition of “Pastrana Tapestries”, Flemish Gothic style from the 10th century, considered one of the most important in the world for its compositional complexity that narrates contemporary events.

Sculptural, pictorial and goldsmith pieces by authors of the time are also on display, without forgetting the beautiful crypt that can be visited in the collegiate church.

Map of the Travel Route to Alcarria

Here you have the map with the details of the car route of the Journey to Alcarria in the Guadalajara province.