Villel
NOT TO BE MISSED
The Castle and Portales, the Sanctuary of la Fuensanta, and the hiking trail of Agua (Barranco del Tranco).
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:
Sendero de Puntos Singulares (hiking trail) – go to page
Hiking trail Alto de la Molina (Cubla) – go to page
Sendero del Agua (Barranco del Tranco) hiking trail – go to page
Services:
Inhabitants: 329
Altitude: 823 m.
Demonym: Villelino/a.
Website: www.villel.com
How to get there?
16 kilometres from Teruel on the N-330, next to the River Turia. See map
NATURAL HERITAGE
Barranco de Juan Sastre, an area with climbing possibilities for specialised climbers.
Barranco de El Tranco, ravine, a natural landscape of great beauty, it is a narrow dry gorge of about 50 metres.
El Val de la Madera, a large mountain whose pines can be up to a hundred years old.
Stairways, rock formations.
Cave of Love.
Chartera Fountain.
Fuensanta.
Cristina Fountain.
The baths, medicinal waters for stomach pains, mainly.
La Horca Hill.
Pine grove.
Millstones.
Routes:
Water route.
The GR 10 and GR 8 converge.
HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE
Iglesia de Ntra. Sra. de las Nieves, siglo.XVIII, 18th century, Baroque style. It has three naves covered with vaults and side chapels covered with half-barrel vaults with lunettes. The tower, at the foot, is made up of a square masonry body on which two octagonal brick bodies rise.
Sanctuary of La Fuensanta, 16th century, late Gothic style. It consists of the church and an inn, connected by a passageway. It has a bell tower and choir at the foot. It has only one nave.
Hermitage of Carmen. Small masonry chapel with a square floor plan, covered with a dome. It has a small atrium. It is located next to the road between Villel and Villastar.
Hermitage of San Antonio.
Hermitage of La Aparecida, popular style. Small oratory built on the site of the apparition of the Virgin.
El Molino (private).
El Molino (público), popular style. The machinery has been preserved.
Kaolin mines.
El Castillo, 12th century, the tower is preserved. In 1196, this Muslim castle came into the possession of the Temple. It has an irregular ground plan, as it adapts to the shape of the rock on which it stands. Of the walled enclosure, only a few ruins remain in poor condition. During the restoration work, the façades were plastered with plaster and the walls of the enclosure were consolidated.
Entrance gates to the castle: Portal de Teruel, de la calle Medio and de la calle Arrabal.
FESTIVALS AND TRADITIONS
La Rogativa, second Sunday in May. A pilgrimage to the Fuensanta and the villagers of Villel who got married the previous year distribute bread, cakes and drinks.
September festivities in honour of the patron saints Santa Otilia and San Roque. It is held on the weekend closest to 8 September. On the first day there is a mass in honour of Fuensanta. On Saturday the mass is in honour of the patron saint, Santa Otilia, and a procession is held. The clavarios hand out cakes and refreshments in the main square. On Sunday, San Roque is celebrated with a mass, followed by a Spanish wine and a popular meal. These are days full of open-air dances, bullfights, etc.
Fiesta del Cristo. This fiesta is organized and prepared by the “quintos” when they turn 50 years old. It is held on the second Saturday in November; a Baturra mass, which the quintos/as attend dressed as Baturros. Afterwards, a Spanish wine is offered to all the neighbours. In the evening there is a dance and then a bonfire where dinner is prepared for all those attending.