Discover Villar del Maestre: Churches, Organ and Río Mayor

Villar del Maestre reveals its character both in architectural details and in the surrounding landscapes. Between the townscape, sacred architecture, river landscape and longer routes, there are different ways to approach this place in Castile-La Mancha.

Culture

Interesting architectural structures are part of Villar del Maestre’s townscape. The parish church of San Gil Abad has three naves and a neoclassical portal. Its main chapel is covered by a ribbed tracery vault, while a side chapel has a Late Gothic ribbed vault. A Gothic inscription has been preserved on the exterior of the south wall.

The organ of the church of San Gil Abad in Villar del Maestre was built in the second half of the 18th century. The year 1760 appears on its crowning, while an inscription bearing the year 1809 is located on the wind chest. Most of the pipework disappeared during the Spanish Civil War. The reconstruction of the nearly 600 pipes took into account preserved material and contemporary instruments from the same region.

All the original mechanisms were retained during the restoration of the organ; only areas damaged or severely affected by woodworm were replaced. The restoration began in January 2014, after the organ had been out of service for almost 80 years.

Architectural Forms and Local History

The Ermita de la Resurrección is built of rubble masonry and has a bell gable with two round-arched openings. Its rectangular floor plan is complemented by a stone cornice and a three-sided roof. The nave of the ermita is divided by a round-arched triumphal arch.

The name Villar del Maestre is explained by the fact that the grand master of the Order of Santiago resided there for a time. This name also has a further local connection in the patron-saint festivals held in honor of San Gil Abad: they are associated with September 1 and 2.

Natural Environment

The area surrounding Villar del Maestre includes forests of Portuguese oaks and a fertile Vega. Agricultural land alternates with stands of pine, holm oak and Portuguese oak; along the Río Mayor, poplar stands and riparian woodland are added.

The river section from Villar y Maestre to Cuevas de Velasco is called the Río Mayor de Cuevas. The Río Mayor valley is particularly significant for its landscape; as the elevation decreases, the vegetation changes.

Old caves have also been preserved around Villar del Maestre; they are associated with traditional methods of preserving and preparing food.

On the Way

The Río Mayor valley runs parallel to the CM-2019. From Cuenca, it can be reached via the A-40, the Huete exit and then the CM-2019 to Valdecolmenas de Abajo.

The Camino Natural del Río Mayor is a 63-kilometer-long route. It runs from the Altos de Cabrejas to the Buendía Reservoir and passes through large parts of the Alcarria conquense. The nearby Sagrado Corazón monument offers wide views across the Vega of the Río Mayor.

The different scales of local details, river landscape, views and long routes can be considered separately when planning your own trip, without a single reason for visiting having to define the place.

Other Places

Other places for your trip planning: Uña, Cólliga, Villanueva De La Jara, Casas De Garcimolina, Piqueras Del Castillo, Cañete, El Arrabal, Casas De Fernando Alonso

To the higher-level travel overview: Cuenca.