Alcalá del Júcar, a jewel on the Lana

[peregrina2000]

Escapada Rural keeps sending me links to all the many beautiful places to visit in rural Spain. Today, I got one about Alcalá del Júcar, which was a planned stop on my ”2020 Lana.” It looks just gorgeous, and helps motivate me to think about “2021 Lana.” Any other members hoping to walk the Lana?

Qué hacer en Alcalá del Júcar

Alcalá del Júcar no es solo el símbolo de la Manchuela albaceteña, sino el lugar ideal para una escapada rural de fin de semana perfecta, en familia o en pareja.

www.escapadarural.com

 

[VNwalking]

It looks just gorgeous, and helps motivate me to think about “2021 Lana.” Any other members hoping to walk the Lana?

Nope, sorry. It's the Viejo that's on top of my list, Laurie. All those old churches, remember?

Though this place looks pretty, to be sure....

 

[JLWV]

It looks just gorgeous

Absolutely, I have been there several times and it is unforgetable.

 

[VNwalking]

It looks beautiful, and with a rich history. I went looking for more information and found this link:

Alcalá del Júcar. Pueblos con encanto. Los Pueblos más Bonitos de España

Alcalá del Júcar en Albacete (Castilla - La Mancha). Pueblos con encanto. Descubre los pueblos y lugares con más encanto del país.

www.lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org

This is from one of those arbitrary lists of 'the most beautiful villages,' but it's actually quite fun to explore even if your favorite village is omitted! A number of the villages are on one Camino or another. You can click on the small thumbnail and it brings up a separate page for each village.

Pueblos con encanto. Los pueblos más bonitos de España

Pueblos con encanto. Descubre los pueblos y lugares con más encanto de España

www.lospueblosmasbonitosdeespana.org

 

[alansykes]

Nope, sorry. It's the Viejo that's on top of my list, Laurie. All those old churches, remember?

If you want old churches, the Lana has probably got more Romanesque than I've seen on any camino, especially once past Cuenca, where you average 2-3 per day (not counting the dozen or so in Sigüenza) all the way to the (very) grand finale at Santo Domingo de Silos ("cada vez que se miran las arquerías magnificas, estalla en el alma un acorde de majestuosidad antigua" - Garcia Lorca).

And Alcalá del Júcar is a real show-stopper, especially when you come on it on the Lana, after a pretty but relatively flat walk from Alatoz, suddenly it's lyinig at your feet. Bit of a lung and knee-busting descent to the river and ascent on the other side, but so it goes.

 

[C clearly]

All of these interesting places are tempting me to think about putting together a patchwork of walks, connected by bus or train. That would not have the same special impact of a continuous camino, but these Covid times make me recognize my mortality and the possibility that I don't have 10 camino years ahead. Maybe I don't have even one!

I prefer to plan for less than 4 weeks away, anyway. Planning a series of shorter sections could be interesting, and maybe provide food for some threads on shorter virtual caminos. What do you think?

 

[peregrina2000]

Planning a series of shorter sections could be interesting, and maybe provide food for some threads on shorter virtual caminos. What do you think?

Hmmm, for me it would be more fun to walk for three weeks, then rent a car and follow a carefully plotted out itinerary for a week, but that’s just me. Of course I hope to be able to be away for 6 or 7 weeks, but given my current reality, that may be impossible for the immediate future.

the Lana has probably got more Romanesque than I've seen on any camino,

More than the Castellano-Aragonés?! Wow, I cannot wait!

 

[Albertagirl]

More than the Castellano-Aragonés?! Wow, I cannot wait!

I have the Castellano-Aragones on my list for the next after the Levante, thanks to @alansykes' amazing photos. And I have already walked the Aragones- any excuse to see San Juan de la Pena again.

 

[MarkyD]

All of these interesting places are tempting me to think about putting together a patchwork of walks, connected by bus or train. That would not have the same special impact of a continuous camino, but these Covid times make me recognize my mortality and the possibility that I don't have 10 camino years ahead. Maybe I don't have even one!

I prefer to plan for less than 4 weeks away, anyway. Planning a series of shorter sections could be interesting, and maybe provide food for some threads on shorter virtual caminos. What do you think?

I think the idea definitely has "legs" .....
Actually, while staying at El Acebo de San Miguel recently I noticed signs for a significant circular walk called "Mirada Circular" that embraces the whole area of El Bierzo. There is a summer route of about 300km and a winter route of 200km.
See the links below for more information. I don't know anyone personally that has done it all, but one of my cousins has done some sections of it, both on foot and mountain bike. I have also attached a photo of some of the signage that I saw in El Acebo.

Redirect Notice

 

[josephmcclain]

How beautiful. I would walk it. What time of year?

 

[peregrina2000]

a significant circular walk called "Mirada Circular" that embraces the whole area of El Bierzo. There is a summer route of about 300km and a winter route of 200km.

That’s a very good map. I would use a GPS, no doubt about it. I know there are those who are great with the map and compass routine, but I think the signage could be irregular.

Rebekah and I walked a short portion of this route. It can be a beautiful three day circle from either El Acebo or Ponferrada, and it is truly some of the most beautiful country I’ve walked in.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/mountain-splendor-from-ponferrada-or-el-acebo.27697/

 

[Canche]

Escapada Rural keeps sending me links to all the many beautiful places to visit in rural Spain. Today, I got one about Alcalá del Júcar, which was a planned stop on my ”2020 Lana.” It looks just gorgeous, and helps motivate me to think about “2021 Lana.” Any other members hoping to walk the Lana?

Qué hacer en Alcalá del Júcar

Alcalá del Júcar no es solo el símbolo de la Manchuela albaceteña, sino el lugar ideal para una escapada rural de fin de semana perfecta, en familia o en pareja.

www.escapadarural.com

Wow! That is beautiful.

 

[Bad Pilgrim]

It's nice, I've been there twice on the Camino de la Lana. But in June it's all painted in different shades of brown (even the river): it must be prettier in Spring or Autumn. The outline of the town is always impressive, of course.

Staying in Alatoz the night before makes a pleasant walk with enough time to explore the town in the afternoon. It's also possible to do a 40+ km walk from Alpera further back, since the whole stage is pretty flat.

There was an arrow in the countryside, before Casas del Cerro, pointing in the complete wrong direction last time I was there (a few kms before arriving in Alcalá del Júcar). I hope they corrected it, or it will send people off the Camino (I think. Maybe it's an alternative route, but it felt counter-intuitive as it sent me further away from Alcalá). I don't think I took a picture of it.

/BP

 

[AJGuillaume]

Escapada Rural keeps sending me links to all the many beautiful places to visit in rural Spain. Today, I got one about Alcalá del Júcar, which was a planned stop on my ”2020 Lana.” It looks just gorgeous, and helps motivate me to think about “2021 Lana.” Any other members hoping to walk the Lana?

Qué hacer en Alcalá del Júcar

Alcalá del Júcar no es solo el símbolo de la Manchuela albaceteña, sino el lugar ideal para una escapada rural de fin de semana perfecta, en familia o en pareja.

www.escapadarural.com

Definitely In real life, not sure when, though...

 

[Canche]

How beautiful. I would walk it. What time of year?

Me too. Gorgeous

 

[peregrina2000]

How beautiful. I would walk it. What time of year?

I would definitely favor springtime, but you can find reports from forum members who have walked in other seasons. I’m guessing spring 2021 will not be possible, though, so I would consider the fall if that’s a realistic option next year!

 

[jungleboy]

It must be time for me to jump into this thread (since I have quizmaster's block at the moment anyway )

Escapada Rural keeps sending me links to all the many beautiful places to visit in rural Spain. Today, I got one about Alcalá del Júcar, which was a planned stop on my ”2020 Lana.” It looks just gorgeous, and helps motivate me to think about “2021 Lana.” Any other members hoping to walk the Lana?

Obviously I didn't look at the photos, but it sounds great!

If you want old churches, the Lana has probably got more Romanesque than I've seen on any camino

Sounds brilliant, which reminds me that I also need to jump into that old church thread from a while back...

All of these interesting places are tempting me to think about putting together a patchwork of walks, connected by bus or train. That would not have the same special impact of a continuous camino, but these Covid times make me recognize my mortality and the possibility that I don't have 10 camino years ahead. Maybe I don't have even one!

I prefer to plan for less than 4 weeks away, anyway. Planning a series of shorter sections could be interesting, and maybe provide food for some threads on shorter virtual caminos. What do you think?

This is why I really jumped into this thread because I've also been thinking about a patchwork camino for next autumn. A million things have to go right for this to become a reality, but in theory Wendy will be away giving tours from Sep 18 - Oct 24, so that gives me a solo camino window. For some reason a patchwork appeals to me to get some more caminos under my belt, especially if we've already done a long, continuous camino in spring. The other factor is that I was thinking about doing some 'random' caminos that Wendy hasn't heard of so she can't be upset if I do them without her!

My patchwork idea was Castellano-Aragonés, transport Burgos-León, Salvador, transport Oviedo-Ferrol, Inglés (or even doing the Del Mar, which I know absolutely nothing about except I saw it on a map of camino trails, before the Inglés). My worry with this plan is that it might already be too late in the season for some of this, especially the Salvador. I like blue skies a lot.

Maybe the Lana could fit into this somehow? Lana + Castellano-Aragonés?

Another idea, though not patchwork, was the Arles route possibly followed by the Aragonés or using transport to get to the Castellano-Aragonés.

If anyone wants to brainstorm with me, go for it!

 

[Bad Pilgrim]

Maybe the Lana could fit into this somehow?

The Lana fits ANY combination of Caminos. It's that good

 

[peregrina2000]

If anyone wants to brainstorm with me, go for it!

I bet you are not surprised that I would take that bait. Why don’t you start a new thread, including some of your likes/dislikes and hoped-fors, and I’ll be happy to try to help. But the Castellano-Aragonés is a great start!!!