Albalate del Arzobispo: Holiday apartment among castle, rock art and hiking trails

Albalate del Arzobispo is characterized by a protected historic ensemble: the Conjunto histórico de Albalate del Arzobispo is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural in the category of historic ensemble.

Culture

Among the preserved elements of the medieval walls is the Portal de Santo Domingo. The Castillo de Albalate del Arzobispo is also protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural. The castle is open for tourist visits and is also used as an exhibition space.

The Iglesia Parroquial de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción has the protected status of a Bien de Interés Cultural in the Monument category. It preserves the Mudéjar tower of the former church building; the present church was reconstructed between 1581 and 1589. It stands in the town center on the small Plaza Mayor.

Further traces of cultural history can be found at the rock art sites. Los Estrechos I contains a total of 85 red and black Levantine and schematic figures. In Los Estrechos II, 14 red paintings are preserved on three panels, including the naturalistic front part of a hind. The Ruta de Los Estrechos is connected with the rock art caves of Los Estrechos I and II, Los Chaparros and the Recodo de los Chaparros.

The Ruta de Lastras de San José leads to a Visigothic-medieval necropolis with graves carved into the rock, as well as grids of cupules and channels. The archaeological site of Los Chaparros comprises around 115 painted figures and panels from different periods. At the Recodo de los Chaparros, there are schematic paintings and engravings featuring crosses, grid patterns, shield-like motifs, dates and inscriptions.

Nature

The Santuario de la Virgen de Arcos is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural in the Monument category. It stands on a rocky outcrop in a rugged landscape and has a 17th-century brick church with brightly colored Baroque wall decoration. To visit the interior, a group visit must be arranged with a member of the brotherhood or the municipal guide.

The PR-TE 149 Camino Romero de la Virgen de Arcos restores the old pilgrimage route from Albalate del Arzobispo to the Santuario de la Virgen de Arcos. A pilgrimage to this sanctuary takes place on Lunes de Cuasimodo.

Things to do

A path in the Parque Cultural del Río Martín provides access to Los Chaparros. Stage 08 of the GR 262 from Ariño to Albalate del Arzobispo is catalogued as a Sendero Turístico de Aragón. In this section, the GR 262 passes through the Los Estrechos area and runs along steep slopes and rocky precipices.

The Senda del Canal is a signposted variant in the Los Estrechos area that can be used to create a circular hiking route. The Ruta de Valdoria has been developed as a via ferrata. The Ruta de Valdoria–Cueva Negra passes the Cueva del Huerto, which contains the spring that supplies the stream and the water tanks. The same route leads in the upper Barranco de Valdoria to the Rincón del Gorgo, and a via ferrata provides access to the hidden Embalse de Valdoria.

For your own planning, the destinations described can be organized by architectural heritage, rock art, hiking, pilgrimage tradition and via ferrata.

More town pages

Calamocha, Frías De Albarracín, Alcorisa, Valdecuenca, Alfambra, Olba, Monterde de Albarracín, Valbona

History

The Centro de Interpretación de la Cultura Popular presents an exhibition on the oral tradition and cultural forms of expression of Albalate del Arzobispo. The Centro de Interpretación de la Cultura Popular is open to the public.

For the broader travel overview: Teruel.