The towns and villages in the county of Matarraña all have in common that they inherited a great wealth of architecture from the XVII and XVIII century. They have beautiful houses, ancestral homes, palaces, churches and hermitages. There are many villages dating back to the Iberian period: Valdeltormo, Mazaleón, Calaceite, Cretas and Valderrobres. If we highlight places of interest we must mention:
– Valderrobres is full of emblematic buildings and it is the capital of local government in the county. The village hall, the castle with the stunning gothic church of Santa Maria la Mayor, and the medieval bridge over the River Matarraña will all leave a mark in your memory.
– La Fresneda has a quaint street lined by the portico arches of Xifré, Palacios de la Encomienda and the Marqués de Tosos and the Town Hall.
– Peñarroya de Tastavins Here you will find the Inhospitak museum, belonging to the Dinópolis territory, the ethnological museum “Lo Masmut”, the gothic area “Lo Roser” and the Virgen de la Fuente sanctuary.
– Horta de Sant Joan: this village is in the neighbouring county of Terra Alta (literally High Lands). Its beauty in part comes from the imposing rocky heights (Benet’s rocks, 1,013m), and the breathtaking landscapes where Pablo Picasso began to develop his Cubism style. An interesting museum in his honour bears witness to his time in Horta and the influence it exercised on the artist. The Hermitage of San Salvador is at the foot of the massif.
-Alcañiz, is the capital of the county of Bajo Aragón. Its calatravo castle, today a tourist inn, the town hall and the gothic “lonja” (warehouse, exchange) all stand out. The town’s deep-seated enthusiasm for motor-racing –races are held on the urban circuit– led to the construction of a permanent circuit : MotorLand Aragón , which now stages motorbike GPs (Gran Prix of Aragón) and raced for other types of vehicles.
:: More information: visit the website www.matarranyaturismo.es