Why this ride
391 km from Fuentespalda to Fuentespalda, about 6 h 44 of riding. It goes by way of Roca dels moros, Prop de la Cova Pintada, Els Gascons and back through Prop de la Cova Pintada.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Els figuerals and Els Gascons
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 391 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 6 h 44
- 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: planning record, not independently verified geometry.
Reading history stays on this device. My road watch requires a separate selection; opening it does not subscribe this ride.
Distances and riding times are planning figures. 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 Roca dels moros.
2. Roca dels moros
In 1903, a young man from Calaceite named Juan Cabré, who would go on to become one of Spain's pioneering archaeologists, found painted figures of deer and other animals in a rock shelter in the Calapatá ravine, between Calaceite and Cretas. The Roca dels Moros became one of the first sites of Levantine rock art identified in Spain, and it helped open up a whole new field of study. Today it is part of the UNESCO listing of rock art of the Mediterranean Basin, and a visit here is a small pilgrimage to the beginnings of that story.
Read the complete Roca dels moros write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Roca dels moros comes up about 66 km into the recorded legs. Next is Prop de la Cova Pintada.
3. Prop de la Cova Pintada
The Ports massif rises abruptly at the meeting point of Catalonia, Aragón and Valencia, a tangle of limestone peaks, deep gorges and pine forest that feels surprisingly wild given how close it is to the Ebro delta and the coast. Prop de la Cova Pintada, meaning near the painted cave, sits on its southern side, between Mas de Barberans, Valderrobres and the old city of Tortosa.
Read the complete Prop de la Cova Pintada write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
about 129 km into the recorded legs you reach Prop de la Cova Pintada. Next is Els Gascons.
4. Els Gascons
The Matarraña, or Matarranya in Catalan, is a river that runs from the high ground of the Ports de Beseit through southern Teruel and down toward the Ebro, and its valley is one of the most appealing corners of inland Spain. Els Gascons lies nine kilometres from Valderrobres and seven from Calaceite, in a country of olive groves, almond terraces and low stone walls. The painted shelters here are among the eastern outliers of the Levantine art that UNESCO listed in 1998, and the catalogue includes names such as Valcomuna and Albi, which turn up in this route.
Read the complete Els Gascons write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Els Gascons, about halfway. Next is back through Prop de la Cova Pintada.
5. back through Prop de la Cova Pintada
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Prop de la Cova Pintada write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Prop de la Cova Pintada sits at 262 km, about halfway. Next is back through Roca dels moros.
6. back through Roca dels moros
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Roca dels moros write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Roca dels moros comes up about 325 km into the recorded legs. Next is Els figuerals.
7. 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
Els figuerals closes the day.
Leg by leg
Els figuerals to Roca dels moros
Els figuerals → Roca dels moros is 66 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Roca dels moros to Prop de la Cova Pintada
Roca dels moros → Prop de la Cova Pintada is 63 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Prop de la Cova Pintada to Els Gascons
Prop de la Cova Pintada → Els Gascons is 66 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Els Gascons to back through Prop de la Cova Pintada
Els Gascons → back through Prop de la Cova Pintada is 66 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Prop de la Cova Pintada to back through Roca dels moros
back through Prop de la Cova Pintada → back through Roca dels moros is 63 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Roca dels moros to Els figuerals
back through Roca dels moros → Els figuerals is 66 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.