Tobed: Mudejar Culture, Nature and Trails

Tobed is home to the Iglesia de la Virgen de Tobed, one of the best-preserved examples of a 14th-century Aragonese Mudejar fortress church. It belongs to the group of Mudejar architecture in Aragón that was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2001.

Culture

The current building of the Iglesia de la Virgen de Tobed was begun in 1356 and constructed over several building phases. The project was supported and promoted by Pedro IV of Aragón, Lope Fernández de Luna and Pope Benedict XIII.

The Palacio de la Encomienda, also known as the Palacio de los Canónigos and Palacio del Comendador, dates from the 17th century and is an example of Aragonese Baroque manor-house architecture. It was formerly the seat of the Commandery of the Holy Sepulchre of Calatayud in Tobed. The building has three storeys and a classically designed brick façade that opens onto the Plaza.

The Museo Etnográfico de Tobed is located in recently renovated former cellars beneath the Palacio de la Encomienda. It preserves stone-carved basins and channels that were connected to the palace’s former rooms used for storing wine and other liquids intended for gastronomic use.

On a hill near the village, beyond the Río Grío, stands the 12th-century Castillo de Tobed. The surviving remains include a walled complex and a square tower. The Castillo de Tobed is included in the list of castles classified as Bienes de Interés Cultural under Aragonese cultural heritage law.

A cultural heritage tour in Tobed begins at the Museo Mudéjar Mahoma Calahorri and leads through the town’s Mudejar heritage sites. These include the Palacio del Prior or Palacio de los Canónigos, the Lonja and the Iglesia Mudéjar de la Virgen de Tobed with its defensive area and the Museo Parroquial.

The Museo Parroquial de Tobed is located in a room of the former cloister of the Iglesia de Santa María. It displays religious objects from the parish church of San Pedro and the church of the Virgen de Tobed. Its collection includes relics of San Valentín and the Virgen, several paintings and a Gothic panel.

The Espacio Mudéjar–Museo Mahoma Calahorrí is located on the ground floor of the Palacio de los Canónigos, also known as the Palacio del Prior. It presents the most important Mudejar masters of Aragón, along with their working methods and the materials they used. Mudejar architecture is also conveyed through a sensory exploration of the building.

The exhibition presents a retrospective selection of more than 50 works by the ceramic artist Conchita Gimeno, who comes from Tobed. Her work is inspired by the stucco decoration of the Iglesia de la Virgen de Tobed and the town’s centuries-old pottery heritage. The exhibition offering described also includes a permanent contemporary ceramics exhibition.

Among the standout features for visitors to the church of Santa María de Tobed are geometric Islamic motifs in the presbytery, the chapel of the Virgin Mary with 16th-century tiles from Muel in blue, green and yellow, and the Baroque high altar.

Nature and Trails

The GR90 trail network around Tobed comprises 635 kilometres of marked minor paths. The GR90.3 variant leads from Collado de Valdecerezo to Tobed and onward to the 1,275-metre-high Valdemadera, the highest peak in the Sierra de Algairén.

The GR90 is also known as “Tierras del Moncayo y Sistema Ibérico Zaragozano” and is a 170-kilometre long-distance hiking trail with three variants and twelve stages. The different route lengths and stage structures can be arranged for personal planning according to the desired hiking focus.

The Sierra de Algairén has typical piedmont vegetation as well as a diverse animal population. These include badgers, genets, foxes, wild boar, golden eagles, vultures and owls.

Los Abuelos is a clay formation created by erosion in the Trascastillo gorge. The formation has almost anthropomorphic shapes and offers an impressive view of the gorge.

Festivals and Crafts

The San Valentín festival in Tobed is celebrated on 14 February. The festival includes a procession, veneration of the locally kept relic of San Valentín and the distribution of blessed Roscones, accompanied by Moscatel.

At the San Marcos festival in Tobed on 25 April, it is traditional to open the local wine cellars and hold a communal meal.

The Taller de cerámica Conchita Gimeno is located in Tobed, Calle Callizos 12.

More destinations

More destinations: Morata de Jiloca, Biel, Lécera, Brea De Aragón, Sobradiel, Ateca, Gotor and Undués-Pintano.

Practical information

Bus connections from Ágreda and Automóviles Zaragoza are available for travelling to Tobed.

For the museums and churches of Tobed, it is recommended to make telephone contact before travelling, as there may be occasional closures or changes to the opening hours of cultural activities.

To the main travel overview: Saragossa.