Cuenca, Spain - A guide and tips
Sitting on a gorge created by the Jucar river system the old town of Cuenca lies between Madrid and Valencia in the Castille-La Mancha province of Spain. It is a famous for the hanging houses, a number of recently renovated properties that sit at the very edge of the gorge.
There are in fact two Cuencas, the old town and the very much bigger new town. For many staying in the old town where the hanging houses and the cathedral is situated, the prefered choice of accommodation is the Parador.
This is situated by a spectacular wooden walkway adjacent to the old town across the gorge. It is well signed as you enter the town by car and parking is available as it an open-air swimming pool.
The Parador, in keeping with tradition, is situated in a former notable building. In this case it is a former convent dating back to the middle ages.
It is relatively inexpensive but not cheap. Prices vary around the time of your stay and the area of the hotel you wish to be situated in. Check the link above for more details.
Meals including breakfast is normally charged extra and reservations for dinner are recommended.
Inevitably, this being Spain, the town is dominated by its cathedral. For a small charge, including a thorough audio guide, it is possible to explore the cathedral in your own time.
Find out, for example, why there are no upper windows in the facade at the front. Clue: It's not as old as it looks.
Getting to Cuenca is simplicity itself. It lies not far off the main motorway between Valencia and
Madrid.
You can also reach it easily from Alicante on the A31 and Murcia and cartagena on the A30 via Albecete.
Not only are the road connections excellent but it is also well connected by rail. There is a high-speed AVE service and a local train. Please note these are serviced by separate stations.
Moving about the city is fine for those with full mobility. The old town centre does have a climb or two in it. For the dedicated walkers there are a number of excellent trails which run on either side of the gorge. Most are well marked and easy to follow.
They are an excellent way to get a fine perspective on the city and the reason the hanging houses got their nickname.
However if you do have mobility issues, Cuenca should not be discounted.
That is because the city is served by an excellent bus service. Line 2 runs from the new town all the way up to the key sights in the new town. It is regular and cheap.
There is also a hop and off Tourist Tren doing much the same route.
Cuenca reminded me a lot of the Andalucia town of Ronda but with one major difference. It is not overwhelmed by tourists. This surprised me given its proximity to Madrid and the ease in which you can travel to Cuenca from other cities and towns in Spain. It is a great little town to discover if you have a couple of days free on your itinerary. Without being over-run by tourists we found everyone welcoming and life was lived at an easy pace.
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