Ribagorda: Romanesque Architecture, History and Nature

The Ruta del Románico del Campichuelo passes through Ribagorda, where the Romanesque Ermita de la Virgen de la Horcajada stands.

For further location options, you can also include Ribatajadilla.

Culture and History

The Ermita de la Virgen de la Horcajada has a simple round-arched portal and a semicircular drum apse. Every year on 8 September, local residents bring out the Virgen de Horcajada in a procession. The original settlement associated with Ribagorda was located in the valley near the hermitage, where the remains of earlier inhabitants were found. Around the 16th century, the settlement was moved approximately two kilometres southeast to a hillside for public health reasons, in order to avoid flooding and epidemics caused by the river overflowing its banks.

Trails and Landscape

The Camino Natural del Río Trabaque is 27.5 kilometres long; its complete route also includes Ribagorda. The PR-CU 31 Ruta de los Villares runs entirely along tracks and passes through extensive agricultural areas, reforested pine areas, across the Sierra de Bascuñana, through several olive groves and an oak forest. Length, surface and changes in landscape provide different points of comparison for personal route planning.

The two routes described set different benchmarks for planning the day, without implying a fixed order. Length, surface and landscape areas can be considered separately when your personal focus lies between culture, landscape and stargazing. This keeps the topics clearly distinguishable and allows them to be weighted differently depending on the time available. When choosing a holiday apartment in Ribagorda, travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions provide a practical framework for making your own choice. This information helps keep your personal parameters organised alongside the various areas of focus, without anticipating any particular decision about location.

Nature and Skies

Through Sotorribas, Ribagorda is one of the 19 municipalities covered by the Parque Astronómico de la Serranía Conquense. At the Parque Astronómico de la Serranía Conquense, the sky can be observed throughout the year. The Parque Astronómico de la Serranía Conquense is located in the Parque Natural Serranía de Cuenca; the area is of high ecological value, is protected as a Sitio Natural de Interés Nacional and forms part of the Natura 2000 network.

Wider Surrounding Area

In the wider regional surroundings of Ribagorda lies Ventano del diablo, a viewpoint. Also in the wider regional surroundings of Ribagorda is Ciudad Encantada, a ruin. Muralla, a museum, is located there as well, as are the Museo Fundación Antonio Saura and the Museo Diocesano de Cuenca, both museums.

The landscape formations Fuente del Vallejo, Fuente de la Rimpollada and Fuente del Borbotón are located in the surroundings of Ribagorda; all three are springs.

For the main travel overview: Sotorribas.