Why this ride
121 km from Torre del Compte to Torre del Compte, about 2 h 38 of riding. On the way it passes Els Secans, Valcomuna and back through Els Secans. The line favours views over speed.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Els Gascons and Valcomuna
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 121 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 2 h 38
- 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 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 is where the day begins. Next is Els Secans.
2. Els Secans
The lower Matarraña, in the far east of Aragón, is a drier, emptier country than the green upper valley. Here, the river flows through low hills of sandstone and limestone, with olive groves, almond trees and cereal fields, and the villages stand on hilltops, built of golden stone. Mazaleón is one of them, a small village above the river, with Maella and Calaceite nearby. Els Secans, a name meaning the dry lands, is a shelter with prehistoric paintings in the hills just outside the village.
Read the complete Els Secans write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Els Secans comes up about 23 km into the recorded legs. Next is Valcomuna.
3. Valcomuna
Lower Aragon is a country of dry hills, olive groves and red earth, and in its ravines people painted on the rock thousands of years ago. Valcomuna is one of those rock art sites, between Alcañiz and Caspe near the village of Maella, part of the great family of painted shelters running down Spain's Mediterranean side that UNESCO listed as the Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula. The figures in this tradition are small and lively, archers, deer, goats and people in motion, painted in red and black under overhangs where the weather could not wash them away.
Read the complete Valcomuna write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
about 60 km into the recorded legs you reach Valcomuna. Next is back through Els Secans.
4. back through Els Secans
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Els Secans write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Els Secans, late in the day. Next is Els Gascons.
5. Els Gascons
Return visit. Read the place description above.
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
Back at Els Gascons. That is the ride.
Leg by leg
Els Gascons to Els Secans
Els Gascons → Els Secans is 23 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Els Secans to Valcomuna
Els Secans → Valcomuna is 37 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Valcomuna to back through Els Secans
Valcomuna → back through Els Secans is 37 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Els Secans to Els Gascons
back through Els Secans → Els Gascons is 23 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.