Travel Guide Alcalá Del Júcar

A visit to this adorable little village of more than 1,200 inhabitants, which is part of the network of the most beautiful villages in Spain, is a must on any tour of the province of Albacete. Don't expect a village on top of a mountain. Alcalá del Júcar is set on a hill at the foot of which lies the gorge formed by the river Júcar and it is at the bend in the road that you will discover it. Its picturesque appearance, its houses on a hillside, its view of the river, its Arab castle transformed by the Christians and the irregularly shaped Plaza de la Corrida make it an interesting place to stop. Its steep streets and well-preserved houses that go up to the castle offer magnificent views of the gorge. The fortress is of Arab origin, rebuilt in Christian times. The bridge over the river, of Roman origin, offers beautiful views and gives access to the parish church of San Andrés, from the 16th and 18th centuries, which has a neoclassical porch. Although many visitors enjoy it especially on weekends, it has also become a classic holiday destination. People flock there to see the village illuminated, which earned it in 1986, the third prize for the most beautiful illuminations of the end of the year, after the Eiffel Tower and the Great Mosque of Istanbul. Heading west, 17 km from Alcalá del Júcar, you can see the village of Jorquera, which still has Arab walls. In the Middle Ages, it was an independent state for a short time. The house of the Corregidor houses a beautiful collection of coats of arms.