When we want to go on holiday or take a weekend getaway, Spain offers thousands of places where we can disconnect for a few days, but some are better known than others. On this occasion we are talking about the guide written by Antonio Puente Mayor: 'España inédita, 100 fascinating places you must visit'.
If you are looking to discover new destinations that are not so famous, today we present 5 places that you can visit, and in case you fall in love with them, we have included some properties for sale near each location, so that you can find what could be your new second or permanent home.
Faedo de Ciñera, the best-kept forest in Spain
This ancient forest in Ciñera de Gordón, some 40 km from León, hides more than one treasure. With beech forests reaching 30 metres high and several gorges with water streams, it has been rated by the Ministry of the Environment as the Best Kept Forest in Spain.
Among its curiosities are the Fagus fig tree, more than 500 years old and 6 metres in circumference at the base, or the mouth of an old coal mine, now converted into a museum and where, according to the legend, the ghost of a sorceress called Haeda lives in. This cave is part of a 10-kilometre route to the village of Villar de Rio.
Region of Matarraña, "The Spanish Tuscany"
Between the mountains of Puertos de Belceite, to the north of Teruel, lies the region of Matarraña, which is home to a river of the same name full of waterfalls and pools of crystalline water. The Matarraña region has already been classified by the few who know it as the Spanish Tuscany.
Its administrative capital, Valderrobres, is home to a 14th century Gothic castle (declared a National Monument) and the church of Santa María la Mayor as tourist attractions. And its peculiar medieval appearance earns it a place in the association of the Most Beautiful Villages of Spain.
Banyoles, the Catalan Loch Ness
This turquoise water lake with a beautiful wooden jetty is surrounded by mountains, is located in the province of Girona and is considered the largest lake in Catalonia. It also has a sailing club that hosted the rowing competitions at the 1992 Olympic Games.
Like Loch Ness, Banyoles is home to a legend dating back to the time of Charlemagne, which claims the existence of an underwater dragon in its depths.
Ojo Guareña, a karst treasure trove
With the look of a fantasy novel, this karst complex in the province of Burgos is home to historical treasures dating from the Palaeolithic period to the Middle Ages. Among its caves and tunnels, the natural and religious monument is home to the hermitage of San Bernabé and the Palomera Cave. With several cave paintings and 110 km of extension, it is one of the most sought-after speleological paradises in the world.
Europe's longest navigable underground river
The cave of San José is located in Vall d'Uixó, in Castellón. It is a cave more than 250 million years old, which with its impressive limestone formations has been declared a Unesco World Heritage Site.
But the best thing is the three-kilometre-long river that rises from its rocks. It is possible to take a boat trip along its course to observe the different galleries and rooms illuminated by the light filtering in from outside. It is undoubtedly a unique experience that makes it a place of great tourist attraction.
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