Ciudad Encantada

What it is

The Ciudad Encantada (Enchanted City) is a landscape of limestone rocks shaped by water, wind and ice, in the municipality of Valdecabras, in the heart of the Serranía de Cuenca Natural Park. It is a private tourist park with a single circular route of about 3 km, which takes an hour and a half with stops to look and take photos. It was declared a Natural Site of National Interest on 11 June 1929.

Its origin is marine. About 90 million years ago this was the floor of the Tethys Sea, a sea of calm waters where calcium carbonate was deposited. At the end of the Cretaceous, with the Alpine orogeny, the sea withdrew and the limestone was left exposed. Since then karst erosion has carved the rocks into the shapes you see today.

The route

The path is well signposted: turquoise markers show the way out and pink ones the way back. Along the way you come across rocks that have been named after animals and objects, each with a lectern telling its story: the Tormo, the Ships, the Dog, the Bridge, the Man's Face, the Seal, the Slide, the Sea of Stone, the Fight between the Elephant and the Crocodile, the Convent, the Tortoise, the Bears or the Lovers of Teruel. Children love guessing the figures before reading the sign. You do not have to do the whole route, but you must always stay on the marked path.

Among the rocks there are black pine woods and shady, damp corners where yews, hollies and maples grow, alongside protected rock flora. With luck you may see red squirrels, and in the open areas deer come close.

Hours and tickets

It is open every day of the year from 10:00. The ticket office closes depending on the season: from 9 November 2026 to 7 February 2027, at 16:30; in spring, at 18:30; in high summer, at 19:30. The park closes an hour and a half after the ticket office. On 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January the ticket office is open from 11:00 to 15:30. Admission is €5 for adults and €4 for ages 8 to 12, pensioners and large families, with documentation; under-7s do not pay. Tickets are sold only at the ticket office: there are no online sales or booking.

Getting there

It is about 30 km from Cuenca, on the CM-2104 road, at km 19. From Madrid there is a signposted direct exit; at the roundabout take the direction of Tragacete and, on reaching Villalba de la Sierra, follow the signs. There is a large free car park. You can round off the day with the Palaeontology Museum, in the city, which explains the geological history of the region.

Good to know

The route is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs: bring a baby carrier. Dogs must be on a lead and their mess picked up. Wear walking shoes even in summer: there are stretches of stone and steps. In winter, bring warm clothes, gloves and a waterproof, because the Serranía is cold. Smoking and fires are not allowed.