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Cuenca town & hanging houses

Calle Canónigos, Cuenca, Castilla-La Mancha

Description

Cuenca is the capital of the namesake province in Castile-La Mancha, 170km east-southeast of Madrid. Its name originates from the Kunka fortress built by the Muslims between the Júcar and Huécar rivers after they conquered the area in the 8th century. In the following centuries it came under the rule of various taifas (Muslim independent states) until it was reconquered by a coalition of troops from León, Castile and Aragón. In the 18th/19th centuries, its economy was deeply impacted by the decline of the textile industry followed by the Spanish War of Independence against Napoléon. The Hanging Houses (Las Casas Colgadas) were built above the Huécar River gorge in the 15th century and only few remains. The other main sights in the city include the Cuenca Cathedral, the Bridge of Saint Paul and the convent of Saint Paul.

Access & Transport

The city of Cuenca is a 2h drive from Madrid on the A-3 / A-40. It is 3h by regional train from Madrid's Atocha station.

Instructions & Recommendations

We highly recommend taking the time to visit the Cuenca Cathedral (refer to separate review).

Meta review

Cuenca is slowly getting more popular and present in travel guidebooks and magazines. Reviewers confirm that the hanging houses are indeed extremely original, impressive and photogenic but that there is much more to the town such as its old but well-preserved city walls and its cathedral. As for the bridge, architecturally there is nothing special about it (having been reconstructed in the early 1900's) but it does provide some of the best views and photos in town. The main complaint is that the road leading up to it is currently closed which means a long detour and no information is available as to its re-opening date.

Environmental & Social

The main activities in the city have a low carbon footprint. Tourism is a welcome injection of activity and revenues in the local economy.

Conclusion

Cuenca has retained a significant architectural heritage, including a couple of unmissable sights, and makes for a pleasant half or full day visit (depending on your interests). It can also be used as a launchpad to discover other regional highlights

Key positive

The hanging houses are quite a quirky sight

Not very crowded / overly touristy

Key negative

Time consuming to get to

Suitability

Accessible for visitors with reduced mobility

About this Rating

TYPE

Desktop

RESEARCHED IN

June 2024

PROVIDER

Koreval

Included Items
None
Timing
Duration of visit

av. transport time:1h 30m

est. visit time:3h

Sunlight based

Sunrise / early morningOk

MorningOk

Lunch timeOk

AfternoonOk

Sunset / eveningOk

Night – bef. midnightOk

Night – aft. midnightNo

Pricing
Free

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