Pastrana: Renaissance, Cultural Heritage and the Alcarria Trails

The Palacio Ducal de Pastrana is one of the significant examples of civil Renaissance architecture in Castilla-La Mancha and is the town’s most representative building. The historic centre of Pastrana is protected as an Asset of Cultural Interest. Pastrana offers heritage routes and cultural attractions.

Culture and History

The Iglesia Colegiata de Pastrana has a Baroque organ built by Domingo de Mendoza in 1703, which is still played today. The Museo Parroquial de Tapices de Pastrana houses a Flemish-Gothic tapestry series from the late 15th century. It depicts the conquest of North African strongholds by the troops of Alfonso V of Portugal in 1471. The museum also includes the 17th-century Pantheon of the Dukes of Pastrana.

The Museo de Santa Teresa is located in the Convento del Carmen, 1.5 km from Pastrana. The former San Pedro convent was founded by Santa Teresa de Jesús in 1569; its church and cloister house the museum, which was established in 2015. The church and cloister of the Convento del Carmen also contain the works of the Museo del V Centenario del Nacimiento de Santa Teresa.

Squares and Festivals

The Plaza de la Hora is a large square measuring 150 metres on each side and opening to the south onto the green Huertas valley. The Fuente de los Cuatro Caños stands in a location that was Pastrana’s civic centre and market area in the Middle Ages.

The Festival Ducal is recognised as a provincial festival of tourist interest, was established in 2001 and features historical and artistic re-enactments at important buildings in the ducal town, evoking Spain’s Golden Age. The Feria Apícola de Pastrana is held regularly during the second week of March in the Plaza de la Hora and at the Palacio Ducal. Pastrana’s restaurants serve Pastrana-style migas with grapes and a fried egg.

You can also find the locality pages for Hueva, Fuentelencina, Hita, Horche, Aranzueque, Carabias, Zaorejas and Miedes de Atienza.

Landscape and Trails

From Pastrana, there are cycling routes of varying difficulty through the landscapes of the Alcarria and along natural trails. One hiking route follows the valley of the Arlés stream and passes through the typical Alcarria landscape, with holm oaks, olive trees, lavender, thyme and rosemary.

A circular route of around 12.05 km passes through the natural landscape around Pastrana and offers views of the town as well as the typical vegetation of the Alcarria, with olive trees, holm oaks and aromatic plants. A 10.68 km out-and-back route begins at the Plaza de la Hora, passes through the Vega of the Río Arlés and ends at the ruins of the former San Blas factory, once a flour and oil mill. A 2.21 km out-and-back route also begins at the Plaza de la Hora and leads to the Mirador del Calvario.

The Mirador del Calvario can only be reached on foot and offers views of Pastrana’s historic townscape and olive groves. Peña Matea lies at an altitude of 837 m; its viewpoint can be reached on foot or by car and offers views of the Valdeconcha valley, the Río Arlés valley and their connection with the Tagus.

For the general travel overview: Guadalajara.