Route description
A trail that runs mostly along a track, always close to the river Algars. Despite the slight elevation gain, the route lets us take in two different ecosystems: the shrubby vegetation of the higher ground and the lush riverside woodland alongside the river.
The start of the route is on Calle Arens de Lledó, the local stretch of the TE-V3341 road (which leads to the road linking Cretas with Calaceite). After a few metres on asphalt, we reach a dirt track that crosses over the Fondespala stream: this is the only point on the route where the river can interrupt the walk, if it is carrying a lot of water (a rare occurrence, in any case). Along the first third of the trail, the landscape is marked by the abundant presence of almond trees that dot the gentle relief of the area. The almond tree, the vine and the olive tree form the most common trio of dry-farming agriculture in the Matarraña.
Around the midpoint of the route, the path makes a short, very manageable climb. Soon we begin to descend again. As we go down, the closeness of the river becomes apparent: the vegetation grows more abundant and the riverside woodland species (poplar, elm, black poplar...) take over from the crops of the higher ground.
On the final stretch, we always have the right bank of the Algars in view. We advance along the track, alongside vegetable gardens, farmland and livestock operations that coexist with surroundings of singular beauty. At the very end of the route, shortly before crossing the river to the left, stands Almudéfar Castle (or l'Almudèfar Castle), of Arab origin. On the right bank lie the remains of a Romanesque hermitage.
