Discover Cañete: history and scenery

When looking for a hotel in Cañete, it helps to consider the character of the destination: its local history includes surviving Muslim walls, as well as a church, hermitage and castle; there is also an annual medieval festival, places of art and a natural area below the walls. These highlights can be considered according to whether you are especially interested in architectural history, traditions or scenery.

City history in walls and gates

The Muslim walls of Cañete are completely intact. In some places, urban growth has incorporated them into other buildings. The Puerta de las Eras was the city's main Muslim entrance. It opened to the west, toward the floodplain of the Río Mayor and the old road to Teruel and Albarracín. Its location and orientation are therefore part of the gate's history, as is its former function.

Church, hermitage and castle

Of Cañete's three parish churches, the Iglesia de Santiago is the only one that has survived. The Ermita de la Virgen de la Zarza is outside the city walls, next to the gate of the same name; the Virgen de la Zarza is Cañete's patron saint. The Castillo de Cañete retains its original walls. Interior walls divide the castle into three areas. Together, these buildings illustrate different aspects of the town's religious and military heritage.

Local history and festival culture

The Museo de la Cultura Popular de Cañete covers local history and traditional objects from agriculture, forestry, transport and everyday domestic life. Its scope therefore extends beyond architectural history to the areas of work and daily life covered by the local museum. The exhibits may change.

La Alvarada is an annual medieval festival in Cañete. It is usually held during the last days of July and the first days of August; the exact dates vary from one edition to another. In 2014, La Alvarada was recognized as a festival of regional tourist interest. If the date matters for your trip, check the dates for the relevant edition.

Art, nature and views

Paisaje Ilustrado features life-size, two-dimensional sculptures in the streets of Cañete and in the Paraje de El Postigo. Individual works may change. El Postigo lies right next to Cañete, below the city walls, and is an inseparable part of the town. The natural area is home to the Pozo de la Horca, a waterfall about ten meters high.

La Picota offers panoramic views of Cañete. The municipality recommends making the short, steep ascent entirely on foot. Route 1, “De Puente a Puente,” offers another way to get around: it includes a path along the river that can also be ridden by bicycle. Trail and surface conditions may change; check the current conditions before setting out.

Traditional cuisine

The names and ingredients of local dishes also offer a concrete insight into Cañete's traditional cuisine. Caldereta is a lamb dish cooked with oil, wine, onions, garlic and tomatoes. Ajo arriero, also called Atascaburras, is made with cod and potatoes. Their ingredient profiles differ considerably: lamb is central to Caldereta, while Ajo arriero combines fish and potatoes. This gives you two distinct examples of local cuisine without reducing them to a single culinary tradition.

Discover more destinations: Arcas, Almodóvar del Pinar, Olmedilla De Alarcón, Beteta, El Simarro, Cuenca, Horcajo de Santiago, Pajaroncillo.

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