Arcas: Church, Lagoons and Pine Forests

Arcas combines traces of culture with aquatic landscapes and paths through natural areas. In the town centre of Arcas del Villar stands the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Natividad, while historic fountains, lagoons and pine forests can be found in and around the town.

When booking a holiday apartment in Arcas, you can compare travel dates, room categories and cancellation policies on the respective offer pages. For your own planning, the town’s features can be considered by category: culture, nature, walking trails, birdwatching and connections to Cuenca.

Culture

The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Natividad was built in the 13th century. It has Romanesque features and displays some architectural transitional elements towards the Gothic style. The church is located in the town centre of Arcas del Villar, on Plaza del Consistorio, and borders Calle Mayor, Calle de Gasset and Plaza de la Paz.

Inside, the church has a wooden Mudejar roof structure of the “par y nudillo” type. Arcas’s historic water heritage includes alcubillas attributed to Muslim origins, also known as cambijas or “arcas de agua”, which were distributed via conduits for irrigating the gardens.

The Fuente Vieja is apparently very old and features an extensive masonry structure. It lies on the edge of Arcas’s built-up area, where a road becomes an unpaved track. After a few dozen metres, you reach a spacious area containing the fountain and a washhouse.

There is a picnic area beside the Fuente de San Isidro fountain. The Fuente de San Isidro is located near the Ermita de San Isidro and the pine forest surrounding the chapel. The Fuente de los Gamellones presumably initially served exclusively as a watering place for livestock and later also as a leisure area; the entire area developed into a recreational zone.

Nature

Dehesas and pine forests extend across the municipality of Arcas. These areas invite visitors to go walking and allow for extended hikes. Among the routes accessible on foot in Arcas is the route to the lagoons.

The Laguna de Arcas system consists of around 35 small depressions or sinkholes; approximately 19 of them usually contain water permanently or temporarily. The Laguna de Arcas is in the immediate vicinity of the town centre and serves as a natural area for walking and observation.

At the Laguna de Arcas, visitors can observe underwater meadows formed by aquatic plants, as well as marsh harriers and black kites. In the vicinity of Arcas, the Lagunar de Ballesteros complex can be reached via the road between Arcas del Villar and Villar de Olalla.

Getting Around

A signposted educational trail begins in the Ballesteros district at a free car park. The Lagunar de Ballesteros complex can be visited year-round; binoculars are recommended for birdwatching. Different paths, nature observations and historic sites offer various focal points for planning your day.

Arcas is only a few minutes from the city of Cuenca. A public bus connects Arcas with Cuenca and stops in the Barrio de Cañada Molina.

Events

At the celebrations in honour of the Santo Rostro in Arcas, religious, cultural and musical events took place from 8 to 18 September 2023. The programme included a parade by the peñas, bull events, Calderetas, Gachas, traditional games and sporting competitions.

Other places:Villanueva De La Jara, Cañete, Pajaroncillo, Talayuelas, Villar de Cañas, Las Valeras, Tragacete, Poyatos

For the higher-level travel overview: Cuenca.