Discover Mas de las Matas

Mas de las Matas appeals to travelers who want to combine cultural history with outdoor activities. There are several themes to choose from when planning a stay: the church and other historic buildings, a museum dedicated to water and industrial archaeology, and activities in the landscapes shaped by the Guadalope and Bergantes rivers. This lets you focus your visit on architectural heritage, local traditions or outdoor pursuits.

Architectural heritage and religious sites

The Iglesia de San Juan Bautista is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural in the Monument category. The Capilla de la Virgen del Pilar preserves its original image and dates from the mid-18th century. The Casa de la Villa also makes its own architectural statement: the Renaissance town hall has an arcaded loggia that occupies a large part of the ground floor.

The religious heritage also includes twelve chapels that have survived to the present day. They are dedicated to San Juan Bautista, Virgen del Rosario, San Antonio abad, San Miguel, San Pascual Bailón, San Roque, San José, Virgen del Carmen, Santa Flora, Piedad, Virgen del Pilar and Virgen de los Dolores. Together with the church and chapel, they illustrate the variety of local religious traditions.

Museum, water and industrial archaeology

The Museo de Mas de las Matas has three exhibition areas: the Museo de historia local, the Molino harinero and the Alfarda. The Alfarda is a restored warehouse dating from the early 20th century. Today it houses the Oficina de Turismo and serves as an interpretation center for water and industrial archaeology. Access to the museum is through the Oficina de Turismo in the same part of the Alfarda, at C/ La Costera 2. In winter, when the Oficina is closed, visits are arranged by appointment in advance.

The Ruta del Agua also starts from the Oficina de Turismo. It leads to numerous washhouses that developed along the irrigation channels; QR codes explain their history. This offers a different way to explore the water landscape from a circular hike, focusing instead on the washhouses and how they came about. The Almazara de Jaganta is also part of the Parque Cultural del Maestrazgo museum network, where it is listed under Mas de las Matas.

Traditions and festivals

The Mochiganga is a humorous verse recital of about 120 lines. It is performed in the church square after Mass. Another tradition is La Carroza: this procession takes place during the patron saint festivities and passes through Plana Sancho and Mayor streets and the church square. The patron saint festivities at the end of August also include a procession accompanied by the La Pasma giants group. The recital, procession and parade give local traditions different forms, from spoken verse to festivities in the streets.

Routes and landscapes around Mas de las Matas

For a longer circular hike, the PR-TE 50 Mas de las Matas–Las Parras de Castellote is a clearly described option. Route information currently published by Turismo de Aragón gives a distance of 23.1 kilometers and a duration of about 7 hours and 10 minutes. The circular route starts and ends in Mas de las Matas. Along the way, it crosses the Guadalope at the Puente de la Palanca, follows an irrigation channel for part of the route and passes above the weir on the Guadalope.

The landscapes around Mas de las Matas, shaped by the Guadalope and Bergantes rivers, are suitable for hiking, cycling and horseback riding. Those who choose the PR-TE 50 will find specific information about the circular route, distance and approximate duration; the Ruta del Agua, by contrast, focuses on waterways, washhouses and their history. Nearby, 6 kilometers away, is the Bosque pétreo, a site of fossilized tree trunks that can be visited. The town’s architectural and cultural history thus complements the different ways to explore the landscape and its connection to water.

Discover more destinations: Camañas, Concud, Tramacastilla, Alcalá De La Selva, Monterde de Albarracín, Bezas, La Puebla de Híjar, Castellote

For the broader travel overview: Teruel.