Cehegín: Old Town, Archaeology and Wine

The Old Town of Cehegín has been designated a Historic-Artistic Site. It includes stately homes, palaces and churches, as well as more than 100 noble coats of arms. A route with an audio guide allows visitors to explore its streets as an open-air museum. One of the Old Town’s notable historic buildings is the Palacio de Jaspe.

Further exploration includes Carrasquilla.

Culture and history

The Convento de San Esteban is a National Historic-Artistic Monument comprising a monastery, cloister, chapel and church. It has an accessible ramp with a 9 percent gradient and non-slip surface, a side entrance 2.12 metres wide, and an accessible circulation area inside. The Iglesia Parroquial de Santa María Magdalena is a three-nave Renaissance church and is considered a typical example of a Santiago Order temple in the Kingdom of Murcia.

The Museo Arqueológico de Cehegín is spread across three historic buildings at the Plaza del Castillo. The Museo Arqueológico Municipal de Cehegín currently has 12 exhibition rooms, as well as educational facilities and a library. Another archaeological site is the Parque Arqueológico de Begastri, located approximately 3 kilometres from the centre of Cehegín. The Parque Arqueológico de Begastri is open at weekends; guided tours for groups can also be arranged by appointment. Iberians, Romans and Visigoths settled there; Iberian culture has been documented since the 4th century BC. Begastri reached its greatest prosperity in the 3rd century AD and became a bishopric.

Nature and trails

On the Peña Rubia southwest of Cehegín, Levantine rock paintings can be found inside three caves. Visits to the rock paintings must be arranged well in advance through the Archaeological Museum. Coto de las Maravillas offers guided environmental routes where visitors can discover the park’s flora and fauna.

The Vía Verde del Noroeste runs through the municipality of Cehegín. One section connects Cehegín with Caravaca de la Cruz and is used by residents and visitors.

Wine and gastronomy

The Escuela del Vino is located in a 17th-century wine cellar beneath the Palacio de la Tercia. It provides information about grape varieties, glasses, bottles, corkscrews, winemaking, serving temperatures and wine pairing. Visitors can also take part in wine tastings and workshops.

The Ruta Gastronómica de Cehegín takes place every year in February and March and offers a route featuring innovative tapas and cocktails. A free minibus runs between the participating establishments.

Festivals and markets

The Fiestas Patronales in honour of the Virgen de las Maravillas take place during the week from 8 to 14 September. During the Fiestas Patronales, the image of the Virgen de las Maravillas is carried at night in a procession from the church of the Convento de San Esteban to the Iglesia Mayor de Santa María Magdalena, where it remains until 14 September. A market in Cehegín combines handicrafts, culture, gastronomy, music and workshops for all age groups.

For the main travel overview: Murcia.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Santiago de la Ribera, Calasparra, La Parra, Sucina, La Majada, El Albujón, Inazares.