A Photographic Journey Through Spain’s Scenic Town
Once an important Moorish stronghold, this UNESCO city is now cherished for its Hanging Houses and medieval streets.
Before diving into our visit to the Spanish town of Cuenca, I think it’s important to understand some of its history.
Cuenca was founded by the Moors in the 8th century. Originally called “Kunka”, its strategic location, made it a significant stronghold in the region. Perched high on steep cliffs and surrounded by the Júcar and Huécar rivers, this was an ideal defensive position.
The city endured several sieges in the 12th century until Alfonso VIII of Castile captured it, transforming Cuenca into a Christian stronghold.
Over the years, much of the original castle has crumbled but many of the walls and gates still remain.
Our adventures
Years ago, while visiting Madrid, we decided to take a couple of day trips outside the city. One of those excursions led us to the small city of Cuenca, famous for its cliffside-hugging, hanging houses.
Cuenca is just a one hour and forty minute train ride from Madrid, followed by a short bus ride downtown.
It was around midday when we arrived so we explored the downtown area in search of a place to eat. Finding restaurants is a challenge that my wife and I have endured with the kids for quite some time. My daughter, especially, is a very picky eater. We browsed through several options but couldn’t find one that we all agreed on.
Not wanting to spend the day in indecision, we did something we weren’t proud of but it got the job done…we walked to the mall to dine at the food court.
As Cuenca is less frequented by tourists, dining off the beaten path presented an interesting ordering challenge. Fortunately, my wife’s knowledge of high school Spanish allowed us to mostly get what we intended to order.
After our quaint lunch at the mall, we took the bus to Cuenca’s historic walled town, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
As soon as we arrived, the skies opened up, releasing a downpour that sent us scurrying to the nearby Cuenca Cathedral for shelter, where we took the opportunity to admire its Gothic architecture.
My wife and I like to check out the inside of old cathedrals which usually has the kids rolling their eyes and saying “not another church”. This time, with the rain, there were no such complaints.
After exploring the church, we wandered through the streets, making our way downhill toward the renowned Hanging Houses. Luckily, the rain had ceased and there were even a few breaks in the clouds.
As we passed through the city's outer walls, we were treated to our first glimpse of the iconic houses.
Exiting the city, we descended further to the Saint Paul Bridge (Puente de San Pablo), a footbridge leading to Saint Paul’s Convent.
The bridge offers the best photo opportunities for capturing the stunning Hanging Houses, as well as providing an excellent vantage point for panoramic shots of the city.
Just a word of caution here, we did run into someone offering to take pictures. After taking the pic, with our mobile phone, he asked for payment. He was nice about it, but this is a situation where he could have easily run off with our phone.
We took a brief pause at the convent, where there were some photo opportunities, although not much else to explore. Unless the weather is particularly beautiful, I’d suggest turning around at the end of the bridge. Afterward, we ascended back to the city.
Passing our initial starting point at the Cathedral, we continued further up the hillside to reach the Castle of Cuenca. While the castle itself has mostly faded with time, it provides breathtaking views of the city and the surrounding countryside.
As the day drew to a close, we walked back downtown to catch the bus to the train station. Retracing our steps, we returned to Saint Pauls’ bridge. The sun was breaking through, giving us some nice, moody views of the houses. Walking outside the city walls, we gained a true appreciation for the size of this stronghold and the formidable challenge it would have posed to any attackers.
Back in Madrid, we enjoyed a proper meal at a real restuarant.
Good for families?
We enjoyed our time in Cuenca but I think there were other day trips from Madrid that we should have considered over this one. We enjoyed our time exploring the historic town but other than walking around and seeing a couple of historic sites, it didn’t have a lot to offer for families. This could have been due to the time of year. We visited in early November. In hindsight, I would have gone to Toledo since we hadn’t been there yet.
Places to visit
Casas Colgadas (Hanging Houses): The Hanging Houses are Cuenca's most famous landmark, dating back to the 14th century. These medieval homes seem to hang off the edge of steep cliffs, overlooking the Huécar River.
Cuenca Cathedral: Built between the 12th and 13th centuries, Cuenca Cathedral is one of the first Gothic cathedrals in Spain. It stands on the site of a former mosque and showcases a mix of Romanesque and Gothic styles.
Puente de San Pablo (Saint Paul Bridge): This iron bridge was built between 1902 and 1903 to replace an older stone bridge from the 16th century. Stretching over the Huécar River gorge, it connects the old town to Saint Paul's Convent and offers incredible views of the hanging houses and surrounding landscape.
Torre Mangana: Torre Mangana is a tall tower standing in the heart of Cuenca, originally serving as part of the medieval city's fortifications. Rebuilt in the 20th century, the tower offers insight into Cuenca's history.
Getting to Cuenca
The best way to get to Cuenca is by train. It’s about an hour and forty minute ride from Madrid. Once you arrive, you’ll need to catch a bus to get downtown. Taxis should be available too.
Track Your Travel Adventures The Way We Do
Join our Founding Families today and enjoy free lifetime access to our travel app, designed to help you capture and cherish all your incredible vacation memories.
Don't miss out!
Whether your vacation lasts a week or a lifetime, join us today and start preserving those unforgettable moments.
What a charming town! I marked it on my 'wishlist map', thanks!
It depends on your interests. We also went to Segovia which I would recommend first over Cuenca. Toledo is another that I've heard good things about. If you're only doing 1 day trip, then these would be a better options.