Cuenca, Medieval municipality in Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
Description
Cuenca is a municipality in Castilla-La Mancha, built at 946 meters above sea level (3104 feet) between the deep gorges of the Júcar and Huécar rivers. Medieval buildings rise along the rocky cliffs, forming a tight web of narrow streets and steep stairways.
History
Muslim rulers founded the fortress of Kunka in 714, which grew into a center for textile production. Alfonso VIII of Castile conquered the town in 1177 and began construction of the cathedral, which continued until 1270.
Culture
The Hanging Houses remain among the most visited landmarks, as their wooden balconies seem to float above the abyss. Visitors can explore the Museum of Spanish Abstract Art inside one of these buildings, where medieval architecture meets modern art.
Practical
The high-speed train connects the town with Madrid in less than an hour, stopping at Fernando Zobel station around six kilometers (about 3.7 miles) from the old center. A regular bus service runs from the station to the historic quarter, where footpaths involve stairs and slopes.
Did you know?
The Cathedral of Our Lady of Grace, built between 1182 and 1270, displays Anglo-Norman elements such as pointed arches and ribbed vaults. This style is rare in Spain and gives the interior an unusual appearance.
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Castile-La Mancha covers a large highland area in the middle of Spain, between Madrid and Andalusia. This region includes towns with art and history, like Toledo, an old Spanish city with medieval streets and monuments that show the mixing of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim cultures. It also has...
Hanging Houses
891 m
Ciudad Encantada
18.6 km
Cuenca Cathedral
915 m
San Pablo Bridge
981 m
Roman villa of Noheda
16.4 km
Las Hoyas
20.3 km
Museo de Arte Abstracto Español
872 m
Palancares y Tierra Muerta
15.9 km
Lagunas de Cañada del Hoyo
24.3 km
Torre de Mangana
613 m
La Huérguina Formation
20.3 km
Historic Walled Town of Cuenca
615 m
Serranía de Cuenca Natural Park
28.3 km
Convento de San Pablo, Cuenca
1.1 kmFuente García
46.3 km
Castilla-La Mancha Paleontological Museum
533 m
Hoz del Huécar
1.1 km
Iglesia Panteón de los Marqueses de Moya
33.3 km
Monumento al Sagrado Corazón de Jesús
1.1 km
Museo de Cuenca
855 mMogorrita
43.3 km
Convent of La Merced in Cuenca
751 m
Iglesia de San Pedro, Cuenca
1.2 km
Casa consistorial de Cuenca
802 m
Church of El Salvador, Cuenca
407 mPlaza de toros de Cuenca
718 m
Museo de las Ciencias de Castilla-La Mancha
723 m
Church of San Miguel, Cuenca
877 mDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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