La Mata de los Olmos – Nature, Culture and Holiday Apartments

La Mata de los Olmos lies at the foot of the Iberian Mountains. The landscape includes stands of pine, holm oak and juniper, as well as agriculturally used valleys where cereals and almonds are cultivated. At the same time, the town is one of ten municipalities in the Bajo Aragón comarca that belong to the Maestrazgo Geopark, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Nature and Trails

A distinctive landscape is preserved in the Sabinar de La Mata de los Olmos. There, a small stand of Spanish juniper (Juniperus thurifera) features trees with large growth forms, sturdy trunks and densely foliated crowns. Another historical landmark is the Fuente Vieja, which formerly supplied La Mata de los Olmos with water. Along the path leading there, the town's old public washhouse can be seen.

The viewpoint and the Nevera are best reached from the car park on the N-211, which passes through the town, by taking the last road on the left towards Teruel and then continuing uphill. In La Mata de los Olmos, in addition to a viewpoint, there is also a recreation area with games, benches and tables. The various natural and trail points can therefore be clearly distinguished according to their landscape experience, local history and opportunities for spending time outdoors.

Churches, Traces and Architectural Heritage

The Church of San Bartolomé is a Baroque building from the 17th century. Its four-part tower has an octagonal floor plan, brick masonry and Mudéjar decoration in its three upper sections. The church has three naves; the central nave is wider and higher than the side aisles.

The chapels also display different architectural forms. The Chapel of Nuestra Señora del Rosario has a square nave with a dome on pendentives, as well as a rectangular presbytery with a barrel vault and lunettes. The Chapel of the Virgen de Gracia has a nave emphasised by a large dome on pendentives. The wooden image of the Virgen de Gracia is considered a Gothic work from the 14th or 15th century.

The San Cristóbal archaeological site yielded extensive Iberian and Roman ceramic material and is dated to the 1st century BC. In its townscape, La Mata de los Olmos preserves several examples of private vernacular civil architecture with upper brick arcades, moulded window sills and large entrance arches made of voussoirs. The town hall was built in 1588.

Part of the town's historical material culture is the Nevera de La Mata de los Olmos, which was in operation from the 17th century until the middle of the 19th century. The fourteen Stations of the Cross line the winding path to the Ermita de San Bartolomé. During the pilgrimage to the Ermita de San Cristóbal, the programme includes a mass, the blessing of the municipal area from the viewpoint and a communal meal.

Festivals and Religious Events

San Antón is celebrated as a traditional local festival on the weekend closest to 17 January and is organised by a prior and a mayoral. It includes a large fire in the town hall square, which burns until Sunday evening. The patron saint's festival in honour of San Bartolomé lasts five days and traditionally includes a meal in the square, fancy dress and shared snacks.

On the first Sunday in October, a mass is celebrated in the chapel located in the town centre in honour of the Virgen del Rosario; this is followed by a nine-day novena with the recitation of the Rosary. The Semana Cultural of La Mata de los Olmos was established in 1983 and takes place every November. It combines lectures, theatre performances, various exhibitions and sporting activities.

Agriculture and Food Culture

All four designations of origin currently existing in the province of Teruel are represented in La Mata de los Olmos. This forms part of the town's agricultural and food-cultural heritage and complements the visible traces of farming, crafts and local history.

Other Places

Monteagudo Del Castillo, Andorra, Castellote, Villanueva Del Rebollar De La Sierra, La Virgen De La Vega, Aldehuela, Aguatón, Formiche Alto

Getting There

La Mata de los Olmos has a regular bus connection to Alcañiz and Teruel.

For the main travel overview: Teruel.