Cantavieja, in the Argon region of eastern Spain, has been named one of Spain’s most beautiful villages, and last year was named one of the world’s best tourist villages by the United Nations.
One of Spain’s most beautiful villages, it is also one of the country’s least visited tourist destinations.
Cantavieja is a town full of history and monuments that is worth visiting, but few people actually visit. The ruins of its old castle govern a town of 700 people located on the east coast of the country.
Destroyed during the First Carlist War in the 1830s, Cantavieja became General Ramon Cabrera’s headquarters. Fortunately, neither that nor any subsequent conflict caused much damage to the town, and many of its Gothic buildings remained intact.
Buildings such as the Church of San Miguel, the old baroque hospital of San Roque, and the manor house Casa Vile are so beautiful and well-preserved that Cantavieja has been declared an Important Cultural Monument.
It was then declared one of the “Most Beautiful Villages of Spain” in 2014. Last year, it was named one of the world’s best tourist villages by the United Nations.
For explorers, the narrow cobblestone streets, medieval-style houses, and steep terrain are perfect for hikes, walks, or viewpoints. You can visit the Tarahuela lookout, La Fuente de la Faldrilla and the banks of the Cantavieja River. If you are lucky, you may be able to observe the behavior of cows and goats in these places.
Ibex, roe deer, wild boars, foxes, mustelids, martens, otters, griffon vultures, Egyptian vultures, and golden eagles are also creatures that can be monitored.
“Cantavieja is a monument, history and nature. Just by strolling along the surrounding paths you will reach amazing places such as the Balcony of Cantavieja, the fountain “La Faldrilla” and the banks of the Cantavieja River,” says Turismo Aragón. writes about this town.
“Walking under the gaze of griffon vultures, the frequent perch of mountain goats, and even following the tracks of badgers are just some of the things we might encounter on foot or by bike.”
According to a Spanish tourist website, the rugged yet beautiful exterior of the island is popular with hikers, but most of the residents are residential, so they are not bothered by the influx of vacationers.
This village is so overlooked by tourists that there are few reviews and some of the most recent recommendations date back to 2017. One person wrote on TripAdvisor: “The entire urban area contains buildings and monuments of great historical and artistic interest, ranging from the Romanesque to the Gothic” to the Baroque.
“It stands out for its arcaded square, and is home to a Renaissance church and a Gothic town hall building.The church building has traces of transitional and Gothic Romanesque architecture, but the current factory dates back to the 17th century. The physiognomy of the medieval layout invites you to wander around the street corners and take in the viewpoints.”
The easiest way to get there from the UK is to fly from Stansted to Castellon and then drive for an hour and a half into the mountains.