Free walking tours in Rubielos de Mora and what to see

Must-sees

Rubielos de Mora, in the Gúdar-Javalambre district, is a historic ensemble of stone, with mansions bearing coats of arms, wooden eaves and wrought-iron grilles. You enter through gates in the old wall, such as San Antonio and Carmen. In the centre is the Renaissance town hall, with a market hall on the ground floor, and around it narrow streets that take little time to explore but invite you to go slowly.

The former collegiate church of Santa María la Mayor holds a very valuable Gothic altarpiece, and the Carmelite convent, by the Carmen gate, is still home to nuns. The Museo Gonzalvo, devoted to the sculptor José Gonzalvo, who was born here, occupies an old building in the centre and shows his work in iron and other materials. Around the village you have mountain scenery and pine forests, with many trails.

Free tours and guided visits

Pay-what-you-like free walking tours are uncommon in Rubielos. The usual option is guided visits of the historic centre, explaining its mansions, gates and religious buildings, sometimes with entry to the former collegiate church. The most interesting trips from here are nature outings in the Sierra de Gúdar, on foot or by bike. You can also visit Mora de Rubielos to see its castle, a few kilometres away, or Teruel to see its Mudéjar architecture, a World Heritage Site.

How long to spend

Three or four hours are enough for the village, including a visit or two inside. If you are staying here, spend the morning on the old town and the afternoon in Mora de Rubielos. With two days you can add a hike in the sierra or a visit to Teruel. In winter, the Valdelinares ski resort is close by and another good way to round off your stay.

Where to stay

Ideally, stay inside the historic centre, in one of the restored mansions working as hotels or rural houses. That way you stroll very quiet streets at night and can walk everywhere. The outskirts have rural accommodation with more space and easy parking, useful if you are travelling as a family. In winter it gets genuinely cold, so make sure the heating is up to the job.