Cuenca town & hanging houses
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Cuenca, Spain - by Skaja Lee (CC BY-SA 2.0)
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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).
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
av. transport time:1h 30m
est. visit time:3h
Sunrise / early morningOk
MorningOk
Lunch timeOk
AfternoonOk
Sunset / eveningOk
Night – bef. midnightOk
Night – aft. midnightNo