Why this ride
A 405 km round trip from Fuentespalda - roughly 6 h 32 in the saddle. The stops in between: L'Arc, Cova del Taller and back through L'Arc. The line favours views over speed.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Els figuerals and Cova del Taller
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 405 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 6 h 32
- Journey
- Recorded itinerary
Distance and timing basis
Ordered leg totals agree within rounding. Stop distances are approximate sums of rounded legs. Stops, delays, approach and any separate return travel add time. Basis: producer-declared routed record.
Reading history stays on this device. My road watch requires a separate selection; opening it does not subscribe this ride.
Distance and riding time are measured on the routed road. Check local closures and conditions before you ride.
Waypoint introductions and full write-ups
1. Els figuerals
The Matarraña, or Matarranya in Catalan, is the corner of Teruel that tourism brochures like to call Spain's Tuscany, and for once the comparison is not silly. Olive groves and almond orchards climb rolling hills topped by stone villages with church towers, while to the south the limestone wall of the Ports de Beseit rises abruptly, cut by gorges and clear rivers. Near the village of Fuentespalda, a painted shelter called Els Figuerals adds this valley to the long UNESCO roll of Iberian rock art.
Read the complete Els figuerals write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Els figuerals is where the day begins. Next is L'Arc.
2. L'Arc
L'Arc means the arch, and it is one of those place names that makes you look up. In the limestone of the Maestrat, weathering has worked on the rock for millions of years, carving ledges, hollows, pinnacles and now and then a natural arch or bridge where a thin wall has been eaten through. The shelter lies about six kilometres from Albocàsser, and carries painting in the Levantine tradition, protected by UNESCO as part of the rock art of the Mediterranean basin in Spain. The ride links it with the Arenal de la Fonseca, a sandy ledge where the rock crumbles to grit.
Read the complete L'Arc write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
L'Arc comes up about 87 km into the recorded legs. Next is Cova del Taller.
3. Cova del Taller
South of Tortosa the Ebro river slows down and spreads into one of the great wetlands of the western Mediterranean, but a few kilometres inland the country is hilly and dry, with limestone outcrops and terraced olives. Cova del Taller sits somewhere in this landscape of the Baix Ebre, near El Perelló and L'Ampolla, and is one of the shelters that carry prehistoric paintings in Catalonia.
Read the complete Cova del Taller write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
about 206 km into the recorded legs you reach Cova del Taller. Next is back through L'Arc.
4. back through L'Arc
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete L'Arc write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through L'Arc, late in the day. Next is Els figuerals.
5. Els figuerals
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Els figuerals write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Back at Els figuerals. That is the ride.
Leg by leg
Els figuerals to L'Arc
Els figuerals → L'Arc is 87 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
L'Arc to Cova del Taller
L'Arc → Cova del Taller is 119 km of getting across. Ride it tidily and keep the enthusiasm for what comes after.
Cova del Taller to back through L'Arc
Cova del Taller → back through L'Arc is 109 km of getting across. Ride it tidily and keep the enthusiasm for what comes after.
back through L'Arc to Els figuerals
back through L'Arc → Els figuerals is 89 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.