Discover Anchuela del Pedregal

Anchuela del Pedregal lies on a hillside at the foot of the Sierra de Caldereros. For travelers interested in historic architectural styles and the development of a place, its churches and chapels sit alongside traces of an earlier settlement. The mostly terraced streets give the village an east-west orientation. This places religious architecture, older settlement traces and the street layout alongside one another as different ways of exploring the village.

Hillside setting and street layout

The streets of Anchuela del Pedregal are mostly laid out in terraces running east to west. Together with the hillside setting, this orientation shapes the layout of the village. The Sierra de Caldereros, at whose foot the village lies, is designated a natural monument in the wider Molina–Alto Tajo area. This brings together a specific village layout and a connection to the landscape at the regional level. When planning your trip, it is useful to keep the two distinct: the terraced streets characterize the village, while the protected designation applies to the Sierra in the wider area.

Churches and chapels

The Iglesia de San Andrés Apóstol is a single-nave church with a tall, narrow Baroque high altarpiece. “Single-nave” describes the layout of the church interior, with one main nave; the altarpiece is a separate design feature. The building thus offers two distinct architectural aspects to consider: the form of the church interior and the design of the high altar.

The Ermita de San José stands at the entrance to the village. Its richly decorated portal includes design elements in the pre-Columbian style, while geometric forms can be found on its exterior and interior walls. The chapel was built by an indiano, a son of the village who had emigrated to the Americas. Here, a striking portal style combines with a building history connected to Anchuela del Pedregal. If you plan to visit the chapel, check its current condition in advance.

The Ermita de Nuestra Señora del Gavilán has medieval origins and was extensively enlarged and altered in the 18th century. Its history therefore includes both a medieval beginning and later changes. A distinctive detail is the reconstructed almizate in the roof structure above the chancel: eight-pointed stars and diagonal crosses alternate as Mudéjar decoration across 25 square panels. This pattern can be distinguished from the portal and wall designs of the Ermita de San José.

Older traces in the village

In the upper part of Anchuela del Pedregal, the remains of an earlier settlement with sunken houses have been preserved. An old cemetery is also located in the upper part of the village. These traces complement the religious buildings with another aspect of the village’s history, drawing attention to earlier settlement and burials. Their shared location in the upper part helps you place these two historic features in context.

A pairón dating from 1900 stands beside a path near Anchuela del Pedregal. Its four niches probably include depictions of San José, San Vicente and the souls in purgatory, among others. These motifs are therefore probable identifications, not certain ones. If you include the monument in your route, check its condition on site.

Route to the Ermita de Nuestra Señora del Gavilán

A path leads to the Ermita de Nuestra Señora del Gavilán, branching off opposite the road that runs from the N-211 to the village entrance. The chapel is about two kilometers from the village. This approximate distance can help you factor the route into your plans as a separate part of your trip. Check the trail conditions on site before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Poveda De La Sierra, Corduente, Ciruelas, Pastrana, Albares, Hiendelaencina, Cogolludo, Mazuecos.

For the broader travel guide: Guadalajara.