10 unusual places to visit with children in the Alto Tajo
It is not easy to find a few kilometers from each other, landscapes that compete with the Canyon of the Colorado, almost impenetrable forests, secular cities full of history, convents and centenary castles, a amazing gastronomy ... and even prehistoric caves who discover an unsuspected past. And all wrapped up by the protective mantle of a natural space recognized by Unesco as a Universal Heritage.
Even more surprising is discovering this world in the little-known province of Guadalajara, a few kilometers from Madrid. All this is part of the Geopark of the Comarca de Molina-Alto Tajo, one of the biodiversity peaks of Castilla-La Mancha. Located between the south eastern part of Guadalajara and the northeastern part of Cuenca, this natural space is the most extensive network of canyons and sickles in this community. A harmonious succession of cliffs, twists and terraces as well as unique forms of hillsides like knives, needles and monoliths that the Tagus and its tributaries have been carving as they pass through these lands. Lands coveted for centuries, as shown by their numerous castles, fortresses and towers. Millenary lands whose children have left their signatures in impenetrable caves.
10 of the surprises of the Alto Tajo to visit with children
Miniature Colorado Canyon
The Canyon of the sickle of the river Gallo it is surely the most beautiful landscape of the entire Geopark and one of the most spectacular in Spain. The erosion for thousands of years of these Triassic lands has formed a succession of phantasmagorical forms of living and warm colors that contrast with the vegetation that surrounds them, which also changes according to the seasons, offering a natural environment of great beauty. Cliffs, escarpments and reddish cliffs of 400 meters that rise on the river Gallo, leaving at its feet the charming hermitage of the Virgen de la Hoz, from the 13th century, contrasting with the green, yellow and brown tones of the pines that penetrate their roots between the cracks of the gigantic wall and the riverside woods by the river . There are three viewpoints at different heights from which, with luck, you can observe the many raptors - royal blue, Bonelli's eagle, peregrine falcon, Egyptian vulture, griffon vulture, eagle owl ... - that fly over and nest in the hollows of the ravine.
A sexual rite drawn in stone
It is not easy to access the cave located on top of a hill and under the ruins of an old watchtower. It is necessary to cross it crouched, with lantern and helmet, but the experience is worth it. Declared a National Monument since 1935, the Cueva de los Casares contains on its walls a series of Paleolithic engravings -rinoceron, deer, horse, glutton and fish- made with great naturism that make it the most important cave art site in the interior of the Iberian Peninsula. These engravings have been the object of attention of the most renowned international researchers on Prehistory, and the basis for new scientific proposals on the evolution of Paleolithic art, awakening interesting debates about the capacity and artistic audacity of the first settlers of the Region of Molina de Aragón . Particularly interesting is a controversial scene, which some researchers consider the first representation of a sexual ritual ceremony found in Spain.
A stone forest
The Fossil forest of the Sierra de Aragoncillo18 km away. de Molina de Aragón, is one of the oldest fossil log formations in the world. Its fossilization was caused by a volcanic eruption that covered them with a mantle of lava and ash that occurred in the Upper Paleozoic 290 million years ago. The trunks, now converted from a variety of opal, are in the position of life, that is, their roots are observed penetrating the substrate as they were available while the specimen was alive. It is the oldest fossils of this type in the world. The rapid burial in volcanic material together with the subsequent circulation of saturated fluids in silica with a certain temperature, made possible a silicification process in which the vegetal tissue was replaced by silica mineral conserving its microscopic details, which gives them an enormous value for the study of these ancient vegetables.
The garden-tomb of Narciso Yepes
It has a very long name: Monastery of the Holy Mother of God of Buenafuente del Sistal although it is usually known simply as Buenafuente, whose name comes from a source from which the water springs up inside the monastery. Its history is equally long since its origins date back to the thirteenth century, to the order of Cîteaux and King Alfonso VIII. Since then, they have been living in the cloister monastery of the Common Observance, today there are only a dozen. The monastery welcomes anyone who wants to live an experience of retreat and prayer, where the liturgy is shared with the Cistercian community and from which it is possible to welcome those who seek an encounter with God.It is not a place of rest, or vacation, or study. Very sober style stands out above all for the harmony of its stones and its surroundings. To save him from the dilapidated state he was in, chaplain Angel Moreno, in 1971, promoted the initiative for his recovery and created the Buenafuente del Sistal Foundation in 1980.
See the Tagus as a hawk
The best way to contemplate the beauty of this Geopark is from some of its viewpoints, privileged watchtowers from where you can appreciate the natural richness of the environment, appreciating the diversity of rock formations, sickles, lagoons, waterfalls, emerald rivers, infinite forests, moorlands, multitude of birds or the majestic flight of the griffon vulture. From these viewpoints we can see the scarce human intervention of this vast territory where few actions alter the landscape. One of the most beautiful is the Mirador del Tajo that allows you to enjoy the wonderful views of the confluence of the Tagus with the River Gallo. Curiously, the viewpoint is conditioned for the blind (what is still a blind / blind paradox) and people with reduced mobility. The viewpoint is very close to the Bridge of San Pedro and next to the intermittent waterfall of the Escaleruela. Egyptian vultures, peregrine falcons, griffon vultures, golden eagles and Bonelli's eagles will be the visitor's neighbors.
Two rivers in white and red
The Bridge of San Pedro It is right on the junction of the Tagus and Gallo rivers, a very beautiful place where bathers abound when it is hot. The union of both channels that navigate by beds of rocks of different type, produces, when there is intense rain and sediments are dragged, a curious contrast between the color of the waters of the Rooster, reddish due to sands and clays of that color, and those of the Tagus, whitish since they drag particles of kaolin. In this way the river runs for a few meters with both colors. But in addition to the spectacle of clean waters, the vegetation that surrounds them is a sight to behold. Sargas, black poplars, hazel trees, dogwoods, birches and ash trees intertwine their branches and their different colors and nuances, creating a unique setting.
Stage (one more) of Game of Thrones
When seen from a distance, it seems impossible that on a rocky watchtower about 20 meters high a tower of other meters could be built and that it will not collapse. When you see it closer you can understand that this tower is part of a walled enclosure, perfectly restored, which in its day came to house up to 500 men. The castle of Zafra, of Muslim origin, it became one of the most important enclaves of the Middle Ages. The best that is said about him is that there was shot some scene of the series Game of Thrones-mobilizing dozens of roads and hundreds of people, and getting his visits to multiply by five since he appeared in the 6th season, and that It is private, bought in 1971 by a relative of Carmen Polo, Franco's wife, Antonio Sanz Polo, for just over 33,000 pesetas. Since then many hundreds of thousands of euros have been invested in recovering it, a generous but somewhat absurd measure since visits are not allowed or used. Of course, the views are great. From it all the moorland moorland is dominated.
Savor the "bolos con morro"
Roe deer or venison, mushrooms and mushrooms, trout, black truffle, blood sausage ... Of course in this area of Guadalajara there is no hunger. One of the most striking dishes in the area, especially on cold days are the "Bowling" with nose. It is a stew made with beans to which is added sausage, ear, and of course, the nose. Another great gastronomy of the area, are the gruel, that are obtained by cooking previously roasted water and flour, and stirring to obtain a creamy and thick consistency. To accompany it you can add pieces of bacon or sausage, or even spicy chilli or pickled cucumbers. The deer, roe deer and lamb are types of meat very typical and abundant. They are usually prepared in a casserole. Lamb chops are also typical. The morteruelo, which is the star dish of Castilla la Mancha, is a pasta made with pork liver and other ingredients of small game, which is eaten hot and spread on bread. For dessert you can start with the fried milk, although something more traditional in the area are the rolls, some fried donuts and coated in sugar and cinnamon, or village cookies, which are still being made by hand.
Molina de Aragón witness of cultures and times
Molina de Aragón is a city with a great monumental wealth, a witness of cultures and times. Its way through the Middle Ages dominates the general view that spills over the hill the wall that surrounds the village and merges with the castle. In the background, the Torre de Aragón watches from the hill and harasses the fortress taken by the barbican, which can be seen from afar. A walk through its streets soon introduces us to the Jewish quarter of great medieval beauty, as it takes us to the morería on the other side of the Gallo River. Over the river covers the passage Romanesque bridge, from the 13th century, symbol of the village, made of red sandstone and formed by three arches; next to the piles, the tajamares that are distinguished on either side. Its Christian temples of different moments of art speak of the serene beauty of the Romanesque of Santa Clara, in the square that bears his name, to Santa María la Mayor de San Gil; passing through the Renaissance reflected in San Pedro, with its beautiful mudejar belfry or the neoclassical one of the Convent of San Francisco. As a witness to its splendor the most significant palaces clamor in their blazons and inscriptions the names of their distinguished inhabitants: Casa del Obispado Díaz de la Guerra, Palacio de los Arias, Palacio de los Montesoro ... The wall, known as "El Cinto" ", it surrounded the whole village. Currently you can see remains in the Jewish Quarter and next to the Roman Bridge.
Sleeping with the story
Two good recommendations to stay in Molina de Aragón and have from there one step away all the beauties of the Molina-Alto Tajo Geopark. The Hospedería Real Palacio de los Molina It is located in the historic center of Molina de Aragón. Its façade is Renaissance and consists of a beautiful half-point adovelado gate, two tall latticed windows and polychrome shields of the Molina crown. In its halls, its dining room, its cafeteria, its rooms, its stairs ..., one can believe crossing with Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, Don Manrique de Lara, Tarik, Doña Blanca de Molina ... Rooms from 75 euros / night.
The Molino de Batán It is located at the gates of the Alto Tajo Natural Park, in a unique and privileged natural setting. The accommodation occupies a large estate in which the mill is located, a manor house and a large extension of land dedicated to prairie, the cultivation of fruit trees and orchard being all spaces open to visitors. The hotel is a flour mill of the XIX century rehabilitated in rural apartments with historical identity fully equipped: French fireplaces, hydromassage and social lounges. It has a special offer of 3x2 from Sunday to Thursday, prices from 50 euros per night.
Enrique Sancho
