Discover La Peraleja: Holiday Apartment, Nature and Culture

Nature and Trails

La Peraleja can be explored on a 9.9 km circular route that begins and ends next to the Iglesia Parroquial de San Miguel Arcángel. The route passes through the northwest of the municipality of La Peraleja, briefly runs through the municipal area of Gascueña and enters the ZEC “Estepas yesosas de La Alcarria Conquense”. In the first section, it passes the heavily restored Ermita de San José; well-preserved Stations of the Cross mark the route there.

When choosing a holiday apartment in La Peraleja, travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions can serve as points of comparison. The circular route, protected area, buildings and festivals can be considered side by side as different focal points for personal trip planning.

Natural Area

La Peraleja is one of the municipalities located in the ZEC “Estepas yesosas de La Alcarria Conquense”. The protected area has a highly pure gypsum subsoil, which favours gypsophilous plant communities. Brassica repanda subsp. Gypsicola and Helianthemum marifolium subsp. Conquensis are among the plant species found in the protected area.

The Mirador de Nuestra Señora del Monte is located at one of the highest points in the municipal area of La Peraleja and forms part of the network of viewpoints in the Alcarria Conquense. The Ermita de Nuestra Señora del Monte lies in a wooded setting overlooking the Valle de Guadamejud.

Culture and History

The Iglesia Parroquial de San Miguel Arcángel is the most outstanding building of religious architecture in La Peraleja. It has three naves separated by eight cylindrical columns. Records from as early as 1569 mention the church.

The modern Ermita de Nuestra Señora del Monte was built over the remains of an earlier hermitage that had been destroyed during the Spanish Civil War. La Peraleja has Casas cueva, also known as Casillas: artificial caves that could easily be dug into the ground because of the soft sandstone, marl and clay.

Festivals and Customs

The festivals of Candelaria and San Blas take place in La Peraleja on the first weekend of February each year. They begin at midnight on Friday with the lighting of a bonfire. The Candelaria celebration includes a procession.

During the San Blas celebration, blessed San Blas breads, known as caridades or panecillos de San Blas, are distributed. Nuestra Señora del Monte is the patron saint of La Peraleja; her feast is celebrated on 8 September. To conclude the festivals, participants dance the Galopeo typical of La Peraleja from the Iglesia de San Miguel Arcángel to the square, accompanied by dulzainas and drums.

Getting There

La Peraleja can be reached via the CM-310 road. The CUV-2123 road reaches La Peraleja from the direction of La Ventosa and Villanueva de Guadamejud.

Other destinations: Las Valeras, Mariana, Vara De Rey, Casasimarro, Los Hinojosos, El Cañavate, Cañamares, Villanueva De La Jara.

To the main travel overview: Cuenca.