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Perhaps you have never heard of the
Matarraña region.
The forgotten province of Teruel hides a magical and surprising territory that has been compared to Italian Tuscany. Just 80 kilometers from the coast, this area made up of 18 municipalities has a strategic location nestled
between Catalonia, the Valencian Community and Aragon.
This place has served as a traditional link between the inland lands and the Mediterranean and is full of olive groves,
vineyards, pine forests,
cave sites and towns of great architectural value such as La Fresneda, Ráfales or Cretas.
Valderrobres is the capital of this region and one of the most beautiful towns in the province.
The imposing
Stone Bridge
over the waters of the Matarraña River welcomes the traveler and is the gateway to a historic center full of
narrow streets
that lead to the castle, which dates back to the 12th century.
The town of Beceite, in the province of Teruel. SHUTTERSTOCK
The place has a reduced capacity and it is necessary to reserve a place in advance due to the large influx of public.
It is worth staying to eat in town to visit the
Solfa Factory
, a hotel-restaurant with privileged views of Matarraña and with recipes that combine
tradition and modernity such
as lamb ramen.
Between charming hotels
The region has not yet been invaded by
mass tourism
and is committed to a quality traveler who seeks the calm of the rural world, but also
good gastronomy
and the comfort of charming hotels located in hermitages, convents, mills and farmhouses that try preserve the values of the area.
The Matarraña region makes a difference in this sense because it not only has a good handful of
rural houses
, but also has a wide range of hotels that take maximum care of design and the environment.
Calaceite, another of the beautiful towns in the region.
Torre del Visco, located in a
medieval estate,
was the pioneer of a trend whose witness has been collected by other establishments such as Torre del Marqués, a 100% sustainable accommodation both in its construction and in its operation. To rehabilitate this
old farmhouse from the 18th century
, local materials were used and local artisans participated in the works in order to create rural jobs and for the wealth to revert to the region. The hotel, the former summer residence of the
Marquis of Santa Coloma
, is self-sufficient with renewable energy through solar panels that generate electricity.
The key to this accommodation and others in the area is to reconnect the user with nature.
«Torre del Marqués is a return to the origins of
the Mediterranean world
.
We wanted the urbanite to find a closeness with the roots and identify with the environment.
We have vineyards and
we produce wine in our winery
”, explains Óscar García, owner of the establishment.
The Torre del Marqués hotel, located in an old farmhouse in Monroyo.
This hotelier realized that there was a demand from an international client with high purchasing power, who was looking for a type of accommodation that he found in
French Provence
or
Italian Tuscany,
but could not find in Spain. Hence the idea to reform this farmhouse that has a 150 hectare farm, hidden between mountains, and has its own ecological garden.
The Matarraña region is rich in olive groves and the oil produced by this territory is exquisite.
In the town of
Calaceite there
came to be in 1901 a total of
34 oil factories
, which disappeared because of the strong frosts that ruined the olive trees.
Today, an effort has been made to promote oil as an economic engine and thousands of olive trees have been replanted.
The region hides surprises such as the Fuentespalda zip line, the longest double cable in Europe, or the
Rocas del Masmut,
an impressive 100 meter high monolith.
The danger that the area runs is dying of success, since sometimes the supply of
restaurants and hotels
cannot cover the high tourist demand, which is only growing.
PRACTICAL GUIDE
HOW TO GET THERE
.
The car is the best way to access the area.
From Madrid it takes about five hours on the A-2 and N-232.
From Valencia and Barcelona it is barely three hours.
WHERE TO SLEEP.
The
Torre del Marqués hotel
is located in an old 18th century farmhouse.
It has a swimming pool, spa and spectacular views of the region.
WHERE TO EAT. The Farmhouse.
This restaurant, located in Ráfales, offers modern cuisine of a high level and delicious homemade pastries.
Baudilio
.
This establishment, located in Valderrobres, has become a temple of good food.
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on
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