Valacloche
NOT TO BE MISSED
The Castle and the Church of Nuestra Señora del Loreto
Complement your visit with:
At your way:
From Water to Sulphur – go to page
Between watercourses and hiding places – go to page
Just one step away – go to page
Entrench:
Villel, Fortines del Plano – go to page
Andatela:
Water hiking trail – go to page
Sendero de Puntos Singulares hiking trail – go to page
Route of Amanaderos – go to page
Alto de la Molina hiking trail – go to page
Services:
Inhabitants: 22
Altitude: 985.
Demonym: Valaclochino/a.
Website: www.valacloche.es
How to get there?
It is 21.4 kilometres south of Teruel, on the local road from Villaspesa (TE-V-6014) in the direction of Camarena. See map
NATURAL HERITAGE
Mountains of Cerro Estepar.
Hills of Cerro Simón Morrón.
Fountain of Los Baños.
Fountain of Catalán.
Cerretico de la Horca.
Routes:
Circular circuit: Riodeva, Cascante del Río, Valacloche and Cubla.
Route of the Vega del Turia: Valacloche – Castralvo
HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE
Ruins of the 13th century castle. Situated on a rocky elevation on the banks of the River Camarena. Three of its towers and part of the masonry wall still stand out from the ruins.
It is a castle rocker of strategic-military origin of the thirteenth century, currently in a state of ruin, declared a Property of Cultural Interest by the Government of Aragon.
There is little historical news of this remarkable castle. It seems that the low-medieval history of Valacloche is linked to that of Villel, village of which was village, along with Cascante del Río, Riodeva, Books, Tramacastiel and Villastar.
Located in a very abrupt area, at the northwestern end of the hill on whose low slope sits the town of Valacloche, at whose feet runs the river Camarena and the road from Villel to Camarena de la Sierra.
The castle is elongated, oriented east-west, and several levels, adapted to the terrain. Despite its precarious state of conservation, remains of a quadrangular tower located to the east, joined by a canvas of masonry wall with another located in a central rectangular base position, which could correspond to the Keep, preserving the remains of the birth of the vault of an upper floor.
This central tower is joined to another circular one arranged at the north-western end by two sections of wall: one of ordinary masonry taken with lime mortar and another of rough masonry faced. It is the northern wall of the castle, the only one that is preserved, it is about fifty meters long and has arrow rods. The circular tower at the north-western end is in good condition, although it has lost height.
The castle has a strictly military and defensive origin, controlling the passage of the Camarena river. From its top you can see great panoramic views of Valacloche and its surroundings, to the neighboring town of Cubla, which is in a northern position with respect to the castle.
The Church of Nuestra Señora de Loreto is a temple built in the 18th century, with a nave covered with a half-barrel vault with lunettes. The main chapel is decorated with stuccoes with vegetal motifs and seraphim heads. The tower is made up of four sections, the lower three of which are square, the first of which is made of masonry and the next two of brick, with an opening on each side. The top section is octagonal in shape.
FESTIVALS AND TRADITIONS
Santa Quiteria, 22nd May. A procession is held and blessed bread and wine are distributed.
Virgen del Loreto, 10 December (celebrated around 20 August).
Legends: It is said that a long time ago, the village was on the other side of the river, but the processionary disease attacked the pine trees and contaminated the water, which is why the people who drank the water became ill. So they decided to move to the place where Valacloche is now.