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Parador de Alarcón
A medieval lookout over the river Júcar
The Parador de Alarcon is located inside a castle with more than 1,300 years of history. It looks out over the river Júcar from the uppermost point of one its gorges, the Pico de los Hidalgos, with privileged views of the area. The castle itself is also regarded as the best preserved one in the province of Cuenca.
All the interior rooms have been rebuilt to adapt them to the Parador’s needs, in a combination of modern and classical styles in which textiles give an especially medieval flavour. The walls, stone ceilings and the decoration in the rooms will take you back to the Middle Ages.
The castle of Alarcón dates back to what was probably a pre-Roman fortification that was later converted into a Moorish citadel. In 1184 it became a Christian stronghold. Most of the building is Gothic in style, except for the Renaissance keep, and is built around a small interior patio with a water cistern.
The castle is surrounded by three lines of defensive walls that link it to the other fortifications of the town of Alarcón. It still has the old external walled courtyard, which is now home to the Parador gardens and car park. One of the most famous owners of the castle was Don Juan Manuel (1282-1348), known for his book “El Conde Lucanor”.