Hotels in Cantavieja

Historic centre and Plaza de Cristo Rey

Cantavieja occupies the top of a rocky mesa, and its old town can be seen in a short walk. The arcaded Plaza de Cristo Rey brings together the town hall and the church of La Asunción. In the nearby streets is the Carlist Wars museum, a reminder that the town was a stronghold of General Cabrera.

Staying here lets you go out at night to look at the sky, which is very clear in this area, and walk back. There are few places to stay, so book well ahead for long weekends and summer.

Best-rated in this area: Casa Sara, with a score of 9.3 from 1,331 reviews.

Lower town and the A-226 entrance

At the foot of the old town, by the A-226 road that crosses the Maestrazgo, are the everyday services: a shop or two, bars and easy parking. It is convenient for those arriving by car with luggage or planning routes around the area, and is a few steps from the square. The ground here is flatter and unloading is easier.

Farmhouses around the town

Across the fields and ravines around the town are masías, the traditional farmhouses of the Maestrazgo. Some have been restored as rural houses. They offer stone walls, fireplaces and paths starting from the door. They are the choice for families or groups looking to switch off. Bear in mind access may be on dirt tracks. Bring supplies, as the shops are in town.

La Iglesuela del Cid

South-east along the A-226 is La Iglesuela del Cid, another of the area's historic towns, with stately mansions and a church with a tower. It is flatter than Cantavieja and also has rural accommodation. It works as a base if you want to combine both towns and visit Mirambel, one of the best-known villages in the Teruel Maestrazgo, to the north. Between the two towns the landscape is mesas, pine woods and farmland.