Parador de Cuenca and City Guide

January 11, 2016
cuenca españa spain casas colgadas hanging houses paradores

Every year we like to do a little family excursion sometime between Christmas Day and New Year's Eve. Last year we went in search of don quixote and this time we chose a destination I had been wanted to go to for a really long time: Cuenca.

cuenca españa spain casas colgadas hanging houses paradores

UNESCO considers Cuenca of outstanding universal value as it is an exceptional example of the medieval fortress town that has preserved its original townscape remarkably intact along with many excellent examples of religious and secular architecture from the 12th to the 18th centuries. It is also exceptional because the walled town blends into and enhances the fine rural and natural landscape within which it is situated.

cuenca españa spain casas colgadas hanging houses paradores

cuenca españa spain casas colgadas hanging houses paradores blog

Cuenca's unique Hanging Houses were constructed on the edge of a canyon's cliff back in 14th Century medieval times. The Hanging Houses can be considered the most famous buildings in this World Heritage City. Nowadays they house a restaurant and the reputed Museum of Abstract Arts and they serve as the background of millions of photos made from the bridge of San Pablo (above).

cuenca españa spain casas colgadas hanging houses paradores blog

cuenca españa spain casas colgadas hanging houses paradores blog

Cuenca is also home to a Gothic cathedral that has an unusual and unique façade which makes you think that it could have been left unfinished.

cuenca españa spain casas colgadas hanging houses paradores

cuenca españa spain casas colgadas hanging houses paradores blog

cuenca españa spain casas colgadas hanging houses paradores blog

cuenca españa spain casas colgadas hanging houses paradores blog

cuenca españa spain casas colgadas hanging houses paradores

If you reach the top of the city you can get some spectacular views including the hotel we stayed in (below). The hotel is in a former monastery with an enviable location atop the river Huecar Gorge, site of sheer walls and dense vegetation in the outskirts of the city, opposite the magical Hanging Houses. But more on that later.

cuenca españa spain casas colgadas hanging houses paradores

cuenca españa spain casas colgadas hanging houses paradores

cuenca españa spain casas colgadas hanging houses paradores blog


cuenca españa spain casas colgadas hanging houses paradores

cuenca españa spain casas colgadas hanging houses paradores

The hotel belongs to the chain Paradores. This unique hotel chain is committed to reclaiming the Spanish heritage. The hotels are often in castles, palaces, fortresses, convents, monasteries and other historic buildings. I devoted a full post to some of the most beautiful Paradores in Spain which you can read here.

cuenca españa spain casas colgadas hanging houses paradores blog

cuenca españa spain casas colgadas hanging houses paradores

cuenca españa spain casas colgadas hanging houses paradores

cuenca españa spain casas colgadas hanging houses paradores

The following pic was taken in the Museum of Modern Art, inside one of the hanging houses.

cuenca españa spain casas colgadas hanging houses paradores

Located 30 Km away from the city, you can find Ciudad Encantada (Enchanted City). A natural site that contains curious rocky formations, sculpted over the centuries by ice, wind and water. All this has modeled stone figures that look like humans, objects and animals that spark visitors' imagination.

The rocky formations have signs with the names of the figures they resemble such as the Boats, the Dog, the Sea of Stone, Roman Bridge, the Seal, the Bears, the Mushrooms, the Convent, the Turtle, etc.
Can you spot them?

ciudad encantada cuenca spain enchanted city nature

ciudad encantada cuenca spain enchanted city nature

ciudad encantada cuenca spain enchanted city nature

ciudad encantada cuenca spain enchanted city nature

ciudad encantada cuenca spain enchanted city nature

ciudad encantada cuenca spain enchanted city nature

ciudad encantada cuenca spain enchanted city nature

As always, thanks for reading. Wishing you a lovely week,
Cristina xo

17 comments

  1. Wow! This looks like so much fun! Everything looks so beautiful there! I'll definitely have to think about getting their if I ever get over to Spain! :) x
    Kenzie
    Kenzieblogslife.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Cool) Lovely pics! www.elationofcreation.com

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  3. Oh! I'm from Spain and I love Cuenca :)

    http://www.alovelystyle.com/

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  4. What a great tradition. I should definitely do the same since I get 2 weeks off for the holidays. Shame on me for not having thought of it before! Usually I just travel on random weekends hehe Cuenca looks absolutely gorgeous. Not sure if I love the buildings or their outdoors more. So beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh my goodness, these photos are beautiful!

    xx Kelly
    Sparkles and Shoes

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  6. What a beautiful and historical place!
    xo
    www.laurajaneatelier.com

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  7. Absolutely stunning! The architecture, design and nature are incredible<3

    Good karma,
    Tatum || AbstractAphrodite

    ReplyDelete
  8. Cuenca looks like such a beauitful city. I love the architecture. I went to Barcelona in July and the architecture was something I found incredible too. I hope to see much more of your beauitful country in the future. I am going to bookmark this post so I have a little guide for Cuenca if I should ever find myself there.
    By the way your hat is so cute. I love it! :)

    www.thesparklingdarling.com

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  9. This looks amazing! Cuenca is a great city, and I am happy to hear that you had a great time! Great post!
    xoxo, Vanessa
    www.WhatWouldVWear.net

    ReplyDelete
  10. oh what wonderful photos. looks like you had a great time
    www.thefashionfraction.com

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  11. Very beautiful pictures !

    http://www.fruityandpassion.com/2016/01/2016.html

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  12. Beautiful pictures! Looked like you had a wonderful time!
    Sending love from www.shebebutfierce.com XOXO

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hello Beauty, You have a great Blog and Wonderful pictures ^^
    Would we follow each other on GFC And G+?
    Please Let me know If you follow me, I’ll follow back!

    Love xx
    Official Seol ♥

    ReplyDelete
  14. These photos are amazing!! Looks like a wonderful place.

    xo Lauren
    www.earthtostyle.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. What a beautiful post!
    I love your blog :)
    Visit mine if you can http://thefearlesswardrobe.weebly.com/
    xx

    ReplyDelete
  16. Las fotos son preciosas y tus outfits ideales para hacer turismo :-)

    Un besito!!

    http://looking4theblacksheep.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Such pretty photos! You seem to be travelling all the time - I'm jealous of your travel schedule :)

    Bold Bliss
    http://boldblissblog.com

    ReplyDelete

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