The Albacete town of Yeste is one of the 10 finalists to be chosen “rural capital of Spain 2021”.
The Rural Escape portal has launched a new edition of its marketing action to choose the capital of rural tourism in Spain 2021. Of the 10 finalists only one is in Castilla La Mancha. It’s Yeste, in the Sierra del Segura. You can vote for her until Friday, May 14 in the aforementioned portal, because the jury is the users. On Hoy por Hoy Albacete its mayor, Cortes Buendía, tells us how these promotional weeks are being
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To get to know Yeste, we propose a getaway
In the entry you can read: “You get to Yeste, you are at home”, its cozy, traditional and close character make it an endearing place where a part of the traveler will remain forever in this destination.
Yeste, is a small mountain town in the Sierra del Segura region, located southeast of the province of Albacete, in Castilla La Mancha. It has 16 villages and more than 100 scattered population centers through the territory, surrounded by the Segura River, the Tus River, the Taibilla River and the Zumeta River, drawing a river landscape that captivates the visitor.
Yeste, frontier land
We reached Yeste through the “Route of the Bridges over the Fuensanta reservoir”, First we cross the Puente del Palomar, then the majestic Vicaría bridge (built to replace the Vizcaínos bridge created in 1935 to link Yeste with its villages) and finally the Puente de la Presa. Movie locations, where you can enjoy a formidable sunset.
To discover our old town, where the stones treasure moments of history, what better way than to take a guided tour of the old town.
Located at the foot of Castillo There is the tourist office, where in addition to finding all kinds of information, you can hire the guided tour, or buy the entrance to the Castle to visit it for free: 967 431 154, [email protected], or Spain Heritage Network. It also has an exhibition room where very interesting works of painting, photography, sculpture …
Yeste Castle of Arab origin, expanded and modified in later centuries by the Order of Santiago it serves as a starting point to understand the historical importance of a medieval enclave used to secure the border between the Christian and Muslim world. In the 14th century, its exterior defensive elements and the keep were reinforced, at whose entrance door the shields of the Order of Santiago and the Figueroa family are located. In the S. XVI the Commander Don Rodrigo Manrique adapted the fortress to more courteous ways of life. At present the Castle, is undoubtedly, the magnet that visitors are drawn to, since it has a didactic Center of Medieval Interpretation “Tierra de Frontera”, composed of different medieval rooms that allow the visitor to immerse themselves in our history. Achieved by the Romeros de San Bartolomé Cultural Association and directed by Luis Llopis.
We continue along the narrow streets that lead us to the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, in the typical “Hell neighborhood”, with Gothic and Renaissance architecture, being the first Gothic-style Church built in the region, with a very compact and external appearance. closed, it reminds us of the fortifications in the area. It has, among others, the Virgen Dolorosa by the Murcian author Francisco Salzillo. Franciscan Convent, Ermita de Santiago, Palacio de la Vicaría, Ermita de la Purísima, are other monuments that we will visit throughout our tour of the historic complex.
Surely with so many monuments your appetite has been whetted, a great variety of Tasting Menu awaits us in the restaurants, in which it is possible taste each of the typical local dishes: Atascaburras, migas, pot of wheat, bochero stew, etc.
With respect to accommodation, Yeste has a privileged and varied offer of accommodation that adapts to any visitor’s request: Rural houses, hotels, spas, pensions, guesthouses, campsites, shelters, which in turn are located in the extensive municipal area, promoting tranquility and freedom at any time of the year.
Monte Area
“The world is for the brave” we drive to one of the geodesic points of Yeste, located at an altitude of 1445m, We are talking about Mount Ardal. Only in a place like this, you can breathe nature, smells, flavors, and discover in yourself sensations hitherto unknown.
Back in the urban area, we put on our hiking boots, we made a stop to release adrenaline, Let the adventure begin! We face one of the most exciting activities we can do in Yeste; The newly opened “Via Ferrata Monte Ardal”, which has become an activity that brings together the most intrepid travelers to live an extraordinary experience and enjoy formidable views.
For families and groups of friends who love hiking, Yeste has at your disposal a wide and well-cared network of trails enabled throughout the municipality. Hiking, cycling or horse riding routes that will take you to discover magical corners only accessible through the routes, where you can experience contact with nature in an exceptional way, until you feel part of it.
Trail network “Walk through Yeste”
Next, we propose a cycling route bordering the course of the Segura River, enjoy the pleasure of leisurely walking one of the most beautiful roads in terms of scenery. During the route we can find wild animals such as deer, mountain goat, vultures etc. We stop at the La Graya bridge, from where we see ourselves reflected in the crystal clear waters of the Segura River. From there the “Borriquito” viewpoint is one of the most demanding mountain passes, perfect for cycling enthusiasts. At the end of our route we will be surprised by one of the most charming villages in our geography; Góntar, located on a mountain, from which we will enjoy beautiful views.
And now yes, after a sensational morning it’s time to recharge your batteries, it’s time for lunch, and in this area there are a variety of restaurants that await us with open arms to awaken our senses: grilled meat, Segureño lamb chops, deer meat, etc …
Calares del Mundo and La Sima Natural Park
We return to Yeste along the CM 3212 road that leads us to the villages of Los Prados, Arguellite and Rincón Cabero located in the Calares del Mundo and de la Sima Natural Park, on the slopes of Calar de la Sima, where one of the highest peaks in Castilla La Mancha is located, the Cerrico de las Mentiras (1897m altitude) Why is it called like that, you ask? Here’s the explanation: The last climb is quite steep, in such a way that those people who were at the top, to encourage the rest of the group, told them euphorically: “Come on, get up quickly, from here you can see the sea!” , and as you may be imagining, nothing at all …
In these villages you can enjoy outdoor activities such as gardening, milking, caring for the farm, kneading bread or interpreting the plants and resources of the area. Then we visit the Torilón waterfall in Rincón Cabero through a short path between pine forests and groves. Very close to here the Cascada del “Saltaor” or “zurriero” in the village of ArguelliteWe will see an old mill, reflecting the ethnographic elements, and the traditional trades of the area. Both are affordable short routes to do with children.
On the way back, we took the opportunity to observe its night sky, Yeste has achieved the Starlight certification that confirms the quality of the sky. The sky and the light of the stars are declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. And this one has a Starlight lookout in the mount of San Bartolomé.
We return to the urban area to dine in the different restaurants or bars that offer us a wide variety of succulent tapas and liquors from the area and rest from an exciting day.
We cannot say goodbye to Yeste, without tasting our delicious flakes, dough flowers, butter cakes, walnut cakes. We can also take the opportunity to make purchases for our relatives of the typical products of our town: honey, sausages, liqueurs, “aguardentaos” rolls, traditional bread, etc.
Take a walk along route No. 1 of the Walk through Yeste project that leads to the Hermitage of San Bartolomé. The same route that we do on the most important day of our town, August 23: Saint Bartholomew’s Day. On that occasion the ascent is nocturnal, and the path is lit with hundreds of torches to climb our skipper.
From there we visit the Interpretation Center of the Natural Park, a place destined to know our fauna, flora and vegetation, rivers, mountains, etc.
Then we drive to the area of the Tus River Valley to visit the Collado Tornero Viewpoint, a unique place from where you can see the Barranco de los Marines.
From this viewpoint there are different plans adapted to all audiences; If you come as a family and you want to take a walk along the Tus river, it is a good option, especially in summer that you can take advantage of to bathe. In the event that you are in the group of the intrepid, you have the option of making the descent of the Marines canyon with ropes, with specialized adventure companies.
Finally, to relax a bit before returning, we visit the Spa of Tus, located next to the river Tus. In the 16th century, Archbishop Don Martín Pérez de Ayala ordered its reconstruction and we thank him, since it is a spa with innumerable thermal benefits with treatments with mineral-medicinal waters, recently renovated.
To finish our trip we will return by the road that goes from Tus to the villages of Moropeche, Majada Carrasca, Rala or Llano de la Torre. In the latter we can make a mandatory stop to see its medieval watchtower on a small path that is located at the top of the village. A little later we will enjoy the last stop. The “Hanging Bridge of the Tus river”, it is an iron hanging footbridge built in 1935, recently repaired, it can be crossed to take the last souvenir photograph of our great experience.
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