Cedrillas: Castle, Culture and Trails along the Mijares

If you’re looking for a hotel in Cedrillas, local history, festival dates and trails along the Río Mijares can help shape your travel plans. The town offers a range of things to explore: from the castle and traces of its settlement to chapels and a museum, as well as a circular route to the source of the Mijares and a riverside trail through Cedrillas.

Castle, Settlement Traces and Chapels

The remains of Cedrillas Castle are located in the upper part of the town. The fortress, thought to have been an extensive rectangle measuring around 45 × 20 metres, now survives only as two long masonry walls. The layout of a medieval Christian settlement can be discerned within the castle, with a market square, a church square and main streets. The town’s history is therefore reflected not only in its walls, but also in the settlement’s former layout.

The 17th-century Ermita de Loreto is a square chapel with a ribbed vault and a large porch. Its rear garden offers views of the town and its castle. The Ermita de El Salvador is also part of Cedrillas’s architectural history: it was built in the second half of the 16th century. The “Juegos del Ayer: Infancia Medieval en Cedrillas” photo spot offers a playful glimpse of the medieval past. Its sculpture depicts two young residents of the castle playing games typical of their time.

Museo de Cedrillas and Local Themes

The Museo de Cedrillas focuses on the natural, cultural and landscape heritage of the municipality. Its exhibits are divided into six themes: the natural environment; traditions and the festival calendar; gastronomy; history and cultural heritage; cultural landscapes; and the audiovisual presentation “Cedrillas a vista de pájaro”. Nature and traditions are thus featured alongside history. The gastronomy section showcases food products from Cedrillas, especially ham and cured sausages.

Exploring the Río Mijares

The SL-TE 10 Sendero del Nacimiento del Río Mijares is a 15.5-kilometre out-and-back route from Cedrillas to the source area. The stated duration is 4 hours 30 minutes, with an elevation difference of 270 metres. The route passes through the Ferial district and a dense pine forest. The trail to the Nacimiento starts in Cedrillas and can be completed on foot or by bicycle.

A footpath to the Nacimiento also runs through a narrow gorge with mosses, ferns and ivy, as well as pools and cascades. The Paseo Fluvial del río Mijares offers another way to reach the river: it runs through Cedrillas beneath shade-giving trees and is used for walking, cycling and running. This means you can choose between a designated out-and-back route to the source area and a riverside trail in town.

Festivals and Seasonal Events

The Feria de Cedrillas has been held for a century and takes place every year on the weekend of the first Sunday in October. The programme includes livestock displays and an agricultural machinery exhibition, demonstrations of horse training, ploughing, falconry and sheepdogs, as well as food and drink, food stalls, a street market and cultural activities. Activities may vary from year to year; check the programme for the relevant year before travelling.

On 22 May, the Fiesta de Santa Quiteria includes a pilgrimage of around three kilometres from Cedrillas to the Ermita de Santa Quiteria. This is followed by a Mass featuring special songs and offerings to the Virgin Mary. In May and during the summer, the Merendero municipal Santa Quiteria is usually used by families, groups and local residents.

Discover more destinations: Lledó, Gargallo, Torre Del Compte, Jarque De La Val, Calaceite, Allepuz, Valjunquera, San Blas

For the broader travel overview: Teruel.