The Village Perched in the Ravine Above the River and a Moorish Fortress

Ready to start the route? It is important to take into account the clothes to wear depending on the time of the year when you visit the villages of Albacete.
During the winter, many of the sites will be snowy and temperatures can drop below freezing at night. It is important to bring warm clothes.
In summer, daytime temperatures are hot, reaching over 30 degrees Celsius, although at night they tend to drop significantly.

Before starting with the villages of Albacete, it is worth a brief stop on the route to visit one of the best preserved Arab fortresses in the interior of Alicante.
In an excellent state of conservation, its walls are still standing, especially the tower of homage, where the Arab vaults are preserved. As a surprise, there are even traces of when the fortification was used as a prison, with paintings made by the prisoners on the walls.
The tour can be done following the QR codes on the signage or with a guided tour.
Open Hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 - 14:00. Also, Tuesday to Saturday: 16:00 - 18:00. Guided tours are available by reservation at 10:30, 11:30, 12:30 and 16:30. Please book by email at villena@touristinfo.net.
There is parking in the vicinity of the castle to leave your car.

Now in the province of Albacete, it is time to park the car and visit the first village, Almansa.

On the way to the castle, you should stop at the 16th century palace, today the seat of the town hall. Its beautiful exterior façade, the two-storey courtyard with its portals and the gardens with sculptures by the artist José Luis Sánchez are its main attractions.
As it is the seat of the town hall, it is not possible to visit all of its rooms, but the places mentioned above can be visited.
Open Hours: Monday to Saturday: 9:00 - 14:00.

The main place of interest in Almansa is its castle, built on the top of the Aguila hill.
It has two floors and inside you can see the parade ground, the tower of homage and there is an interpretation centre with videos and information on the history of the fortress.
The views of the village and the natural surroundings from the top are worth a few minutes of contemplation.
Open Hours: Every day: 11:00 - 14:00, 17:00 - 20:00. Last access 45 minutes before closing time.

Did you know that in Almansa there is a restaurant with two Michelin stars? Maralba is an explosion of flavours and despite being an expensive place, the signature cuisine of its chef Fran Martinez and the delicacies he prepares are worth paying for.
There are several set menus to choose from including appetizers, starters and several main courses served in small portions. Everything revolves around La Mancha cuisine.
It is advisable to book in advance as it is a very popular place to eat. Reservations should be made through the official website of the Maralba restaurant.
Open Hours: Wednesday to Monday: 13:30 - 16:00. Also, Wedneday to Saturday: 21:00 - 23:00.

The route goes deep into Albacete to reach one of the most beautiful villages of the 4-day route, Alcalá del Júcar.
Before reaching the village, there is a viewpoint where you must stop to contemplate the scenery of the terraced houses on the mountainside, the castle and the river Jucar running through the lower part. Get your camera ready to take lots of pictures!
There is parking next to the viewpoint to leave your car.

Once in the village, it's time to park the car and start exploring all the sights on foot.

The postcard you will find most often on the internet of Alcalá del Jucar is next to the Roman bridge. Nature and the hand of man have created a landscape to admire.
In the place where the river Jucar meanders through a ravine is the Roman bridge that connects both banks, and in the background the terraced houses with their white facades that climb up the hillside. If you look up, you will see the castle at the top of the village.
It is an excellent place to take the best postcard of Alcalá del Jucar.

Its strategic location has served for many centuries as an impregnable fortress against attacks. The castle is located on a crag in the highest part of the village and preserves part of the walls and the tower of homage. During the tour of its interior, there are explanatory signs about its history.
Apart from visiting the interior, the views from the highest point of the village towards the course of the river Jucar and the ravine that surrounds it are impressive.
Open Hours: Monday to Friday: 11:00 - 14:00, 16:00 - 19:00. Saturday and Sunday: 10:30 - 14:30, 16:00 - 20:00.

The history of the cave houses of Alcalá del Jucar dates back to the Middle Ages, when it was used by its inhabitants as a house and cattle breeding.
Thanks to the geography of the place, these cave houses also became shelter during enemy attacks and even pigeon breeding.
Today, the village preserves two large caves that can be visited together and which are connected to each other: Cueva de Garadén and Cueva del Diablo. The route is so long inside that it is surprising, and there is even a bar inside the cave where you can sit down for a drink.
Open Hours: Monday to Sunday: 10:30 - 19:30.

Crossing the river Jucar again over the Roman bridge, you will come to this restaurant with a large open-air terrace next to the river Jucar.
Its speciality is homemade Manchegan food, although the menu is more extensive and they offer grilled meat or rice dishes such as paella.
Open Hours: All days: 9:00 - 17:30, 20:00 - 0:00.

It is a simple accommodation that stands out for the friendliness of the staff, the buffet breakfast and the spacious rooms.
Ideal for relaxing after an intense day touring the villages of Albacete.