Saelices and Segóbriga – History, Festivals and Trails

Saelices lies on a hill overlooking the valley of the Cigüela River. The municipality is home to the Segóbriga Archaeological Park, on the southwestern edge of the province of Cuenca, approximately 4 kilometres south of the town centre. The town and its surroundings therefore bring together local history, Roman archaeology and designated trails.

History

Segóbriga began as a Celtiberian hill fort. Following the Roman conquest, the settlement became a Roman city at the beginning of the 2nd century BC. Under Augustus, Segóbriga became a municipium, that is, a settlement of Roman citizens. The city controlled a large area and was the capital of this part of the plateau. Its economic rise was connected with its role as a transport hub.

A distinctive historical trace is lapis specularis, a translucent gypsum whose extraction made Segóbriga a centre. The material was used to close windows. Some of the graves that can be visited today in the north-western necropolis belong to a burial necropolis that was used from the 4th to the 7th century AD.

Culture

The tour of the Segóbriga archaeological site passes by the Roman theatre. The restored theatre serves as the stage for the Festival de Teatro de Primavera, held every April since 1982. Classical music concerts are also held there in summer as part of the Archaeological Park’s cultural programme.

At the entrance to the Archaeological Park is the Centro de Interpretación de Segóbriga, which is also the starting point for the visit. Its facilities include a large car park, a reception foyer, an exhibition room and an audiovisual room. Individual visits to the park follow a set route along paved paths; the Archaeological Park also offers an MP3 audio guide.

Segóbriga complements its archaeological presentation with digital formats. A virtual reality experience shows 3D reconstructions of the site throughout its history. The free Parques XR Castilla-La Mancha app can be used at selected points of the archaeological site for an augmented-reality visit.

Townscape

In the centre of Saelices’s old town, the Iglesia Parroquial de San Pedro Apóstol stands next to the town hall. It can be reached via Calle de la Concepción, has a polygonal apse, and construction began in 1577.

El Castillejo is a Renaissance and Plateresque-style castle-palace. The elongated pentagonal ground plan is accompanied by a moat that surrounds it except on the western side. Castillo de Luján, also known as El Castillejo, is designated as open to visitors and can be reached via a rural road.

Traditions and Trails

In Saelices, the festival of the Virgen de los Remedios takes place in May, followed by the festival of Cristo del Amparo in September. As part of the festivals of Saelices, the traditional pilgrimage leads from Saelices to the hermitage of the Virgen de los Remedios next to the Roman archaeological site of Segóbriga. Tunos, Serranas and dancers, accompanied by a drum and dulzaina, are part of the town’s living tradition.

The PR-CU 63 El Hito-Segobriga hiking trail is designated as operational, runs linearly, is 12.41 kilometres long and has a low level of difficulty. Saelices is also one of the places listed on the GR 163 Ruta del Cristal de Hispania. The different historical and landscape points of interest can thus be explored along various trail and experience themes.

Accommodation

If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Saelices, you can compare travel dates, room categories and cancellation policies on the offer pages. This information supports the decision, while the history of Segóbriga, the local festivals and the designated trails highlight different areas of interest.

Other destinations

Fuentelespino De Haro, El Provencio, Alarcón, Casas De Benítez, Cuenca, Bascuñana de San Pedro, Rozalén Del Monte, El Cañavate

To the higher-level travel overview: Cuenca.