Pels camins del Matarranya
This footpath passes through an eminently mountainous area that offers a wide variety of landscapes that define the Matarraña region: ‘terra, riu i muntanya’ (land, river and mountain, as described by the poet Desideri Lombarte).
Its 82.5 km pass through the villages of Cretas, Valderrobres, Fuentespalda, Peñarroya de Tastavins, Torre de Arcas and Monroyo, and the path also connects with the ‘Vía Verde’ (green-way) and the IE-015 path in Cretas. Green-ways are old railway lines used for cycling.
Cretas – Valderrobres itinerary (18,9 km)
Starting from the old train station, go to the south-western part of Cretas. After crossing ‘Vía Verde Val de Zafán’, reach the hermitage known as ‘Los Santos’. Arrive at Valderrobres after 5 km and crossing the Matarraña River.
Valderrobres – Fuentespalda itinerary (18,18 km)
From the Gothic ensemble of Valderrobres, we enter a Mediterranean landscape. After passing the junction to ‘El Salt’, pass through the ‘San Pedro Mártir’ hermitage and ascend to Fuentespalda.
Fuentespalda – Peñarroya itinerary (14,19 km)
Leave the Fuentespalda campsite on the GR-8, pass through ‘la Coveta de l’Aigua’ (karstic cave) and an old weaving factory. From here, the Tastavins River leads us to ‘Santuario de la Virgen de la Fuente’
Peñarroya – Torre de Arcas itinerary (13,91 km)
From ‘Santuario de la Virgen de la Fuente’, the path leads to the Tastavins River. Ascend to ‘mas de la Serra’ (country house) next to a holm oak. Leave ‘la Punta de La Cogulla’ and ‘La Camiseta’ and start descending to ‘Torre de Arcas’, passing through the hermitage of ‘San Bernardo’.
Torre de Arcas – Monroyo itinerary (17,39 km)
The holm oaks of the hermitage of ‘San Bernardo’ are replaced by pine forests. The path goes through the ravine of Torre de Arcas, where the GR-8 footpath is located. Ascend the PR-170 to Monroyo.