Weekend in the Sierra de Segura in the surroundings of Riópar. This small village in Albacete is located in the Riópar Valley, between the Sierras del Segura and Alcaraz in the heart of the Calares del Río Mundo y de la Sima Natural Park.
It is appreciated for its spectacular karst landscape and floral diversity, offering numerous attractions for all kinds of visitors, whether they are nature lovers seeking the tranquillity and pleasure of open spaces, or for the more adventurous who enjoy risk sports and all kinds of outdoor activities, next to the Calares del Pozo y las Simas Natural Park.
The Mundo River rises in the cave of the jets, 6 km deep and with a mouth of about 30 m in diameter. It is located in a cut of approximately 300 metres, forming a waterfall of more than 100 metres, and is considered one of the most beautiful in Spain. In the winter season, the phenomenon known as ‘El Reventón’ takes place inside the cave.
The shortest and easiest route will take us to the bottom of the valley, where we can see the Los Chorros cave.
This is the source of the Mundo river, which rushes down and forms one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Spain, as well as small pools called calderetas.
The distance to the main caldereta is 350 metres and 800 metres for the whole route, up to the viewpoint. The approximate time spent is 20 minutes for the first part and 15 minutes for the second part.
The cave is considered the most important in the southern half of the peninsula, with almost 40 km of galleries explored to date. According to a forest ranger, this cave is very deep and with several galleries that have not been visited, so access to the cave is only allowed to experienced and previously authorised personnel.
We started the year with the desire to make good excursions and in this case we decided to do this route, a little longer, which offers a broader view of the surroundings of the Mundo river, the Natural Park of the Calares del Mundo and the Sima.
The route is circular and lasts approximately 2 hours, plus the time you want to spend in the pools and around the source of the Mundo river. According to different information the kilometres of the route vary, the information panel at the beginning of the route indicates that the round trip is 7.4 km.
The Arenal car park is large and we did not pay for parking, and we saw deer grazing freely in the surrounding area. From this same point you can access another more complex route that goes to the source of the Mundo river but through the upper part of the mountain.
A fairly easy and peaceful route at the beginning of January. We were able to enjoy a morning in which the weather, although cloudy, was not very cold and although there was not an abundance of water in the stream, the experience was very gratifying.
As the title says, we climb to the top of the hill along a narrow and winding road, until we reach the location of the old town of Riópar.
We arrived at dusk and the visit was quick so that we could see Riópar old town. The church was closed so we were unable to visit the interior.
What to visit in Riópar old town:
La Iglesia del Espíritu Santo.
Las vistas desde los miradores panorámicos.
Las casas y calles empedradas.
La fuente, el cementerio y los restos del castillo.
It stands out especially for its location and excellent state of preservation. Its initial construction dates back to the 13th century. The current church is a reconstruction from the 15th century, although it retains its Romanesque appearance. It is one of the southernmost Romanesque churches in the whole Peninsula.
As a curiosity, this church is oriented towards Jerusalem, and not towards Rome as is the custom. This situation, together with its Romanesque base, indicates the passage of the Knights Templar through this settlement.
The construction is recent, but written records state that there was a spring of water from the time of the Arabs.
The Riópar fountain is located next to a cave with a unique entrance that has its own legends as a gateway to other dimensions.
Although there are hardly any remains of the castle scattered all over the top of the hill, it is advisable to go up there to appreciate the wonderful views. Take advantage of the sunrise or sunset to enjoy the colours and tones that can be seen from the castle hill.
Passing behind the church there is a cemetery that is currently in use, we go to the hill where the remains of the castle are, and we are surprised.
The tombs located outside the cemetery are found along the route we take when we reach the hill. We are surprised by the number of graves and because they are of very different dates from the 1800s to the 1980s...
To the east of the region lies the Calares del Mundo and de la Sima Natural Park, where the Mundo river rises. It is an area of dramatic contrasts between the mountains, with peaks such as the Mentiras peak, and narrow valleys where the wide Hueco de Tus is surprising. Here the colours of the stone and forests combine with the luminous blues of the sky. The area includes the municipalities of Molinicos, with its secluded town centre, Riópar, which grew up around the Royal Brass and Bronze Factories, and Yeste with its impressive and well-preserved medieval castle.
Toda la información detallada en la Oficina de Turismo Riópar Oficina de turismo de Riópar
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