El Picazo: Cultural Trail, Júcar Riverbanks and Local History

In El Picazo, the Museo de la Palabra is dedicated to collecting and communicating the intangible cultural heritage of El Picazo. Here, culture, architectural history and landscape can be explored in a variety of ways.

Culture

The oldest surviving building in El Picazo is the Iglesia de la Inmaculada Concepción. It was built at the beginning of the 16th century and extended in the 17th and 18th centuries. The doors of its northern entrance were made in 1691.

The Casa-palacio de los Ruiz de Monsalve is one of the best-preserved old houses in El Picazo. The Ermita de San Mateo was built in 1775 by D. Mateo Gerónimo Villanueva as a private oratory attached to his house. A door leading to the street allowed neighbours who wished to do so to attend Mass.

The “El Picazo y su gente” cultural trail comprises 10 stations and leads to the municipality’s best-known architectural monuments and scenic sites. It begins at Plaza del Ayuntamiento, next to an information board with a map and a brief summary of the town’s history. Each station has another information board with a QR code providing access to an audio guide narrated by residents of El Picazo.

Routes

The branch of the Camino Natural del Júcar from El Picazo to the provincial boundary between Cuenca and Albacete is almost 23 km long. It starts on the outskirts of El Picazo, shortly before the N-310, and runs through El Picazo’s cereal-growing, wine-growing and fruit-growing areas.

The scenic site of La Obra can be visited via the path of the same name, over a distance of 1.5 km. You can compare the different route lengths for your own planning.

Nature

The banks of the Júcar in El Picazo offer opportunities for walks and birdwatching. Ducks and geese live in the section of the Júcar that runs through El Picazo.

Traditions

Rolletes de sartén is considered a typical Easter pastry in El Picazo. Los Mayos is celebrated annually on 30 April and 1 May.

When comparing holiday apartments in El Picazo, you can weigh the travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions on the offer pages against your personal plans for culture, activities and nature. Such a comparison combines the specific details of the offers with the travel focus you want.

Other Places

You can find more local pages under Reíllo, Pineda De Gigüela, Jábaga, Valdecañas, Rada De Haro, El Cañavate, Solera De Gabaldón and Villanueva De La Jara.

History

The Molino harinero del Concejo de Alarcón flour mill is the only surviving flour mill along the banks of the Júcar. The present-day building was probably constructed at the end of the 16th or beginning of the 17th century. In 1808, the residents of El Picazo built their own Puente Viejo at their own expense.

According to an inscription formerly attached to the façade, the Casa de Don Juan Hidalgo Carrillo was built in 1584; this inscription was destroyed in 1979.

For the overarching travel overview: Cuenca.