Free walking tours in Alarcón and what to see

Must-sees

Alarcón sits on a rocky spur almost completely wrapped by a meander of the river Júcar, a position that explains its defensive history. The castle, of Islamic origin and remodelled after the Christian conquest, has become a parador. To enter the village you pass through several lines of walls and gates, and from the paths down to the river you see the outer towers, such as the Torre del Campo.

Inside the walls there is a lot to see for such a small village. The church of Santa María has an elegant Renaissance portal. The church of San Juan Bautista houses contemporary murals by Jesús Mateo covering the entire interior, which surprise almost everyone who enters. The Plaza Mayor, with its arcaded town hall, and the church of Santo Domingo complete the walk.

Free tours and guided visits

Free walking tours are rare in Alarcón. The norm is guided tours of the historic centre, explaining the wall system and the castle’s history, and a visit to the San Juan Bautista art centre, where there is sometimes a guide or explanation at the entrance. Bear in mind that church opening times vary by season.

To get to know the surroundings, it is worth doing one of the paths down to the Júcar that loop round the meander, with very good views of the walls. Nearby is the Alarcón reservoir, with water activities in summer. From here you can take a trip to Cuenca, just over an hour away, or to Belmonte and its castle.

How long to spend

Half a day gives you time to walk round the village, go into the churches and look out from the viewpoints. If you want to do one of the river routes, allow a full day: the morning for the historic centre and the afternoon for walking round the meander. Alarcón fits well as a stop on the way between Madrid and Valencia or as a complement to a visit to Cuenca.

Where to stay

The most special experience is to sleep inside the walls, either in the castle parador or in one of the village’s rural cottages. At night there is hardly any traffic and the silence is total. The choice is small, so book ahead for weekends and long weekends. If you cannot find a room, there are more places to stay in nearby villages.