River landscape and transitions
Olba lies where the Mijares riverbed widens after the gorges of its upper course and gives way to a valley. Riverside woodland and vegetable and fruit crops characterise the valley floor; dense pine and oak forests grow on the slopes. The town is also in the Espacio Natural de Los Estrechos del Río Mijares, a landscape shaped by pine forests, the river and narrow valleys. Olba’s landscape description thus brings together a widening river, a cultivated valley and wooded slopes.
Fuente de la Salud marks another transition: here, the gorges of the Rubielos River give way to the Mijares Valley. The spring is associated with the remains of a probably Arab aqueduct. While the local landscape describes the course and widening of the Mijares, Fuente de la Salud brings together a specific landscape feature and a historic structure.
Ecosendas and circular route
There are two well-signposted Ecosendas to choose from: one is 5 km long and the other 7 km. Along the routes, information boards cover the area, buildings, springs, trees, birds and neighbourhoods. The signs thus connect nature topics with local points of interest. If you start by planning around the stated distance, the two Ecosendas offer two clearly distinct options.
The circular route “RUTA DE OLBA, SUS BARRIOS Y SUS RIOS” is 10,150 m (10.15 km) long in total. It is therefore longer than either of the two Ecosendas. The three stated distances allow for a direct comparison; you can first weigh up which one suits your plans based on distance.
The San Cristóbal Ecosenda starts in the Barriada de los Ramones and ends in Olba. Its starting and finishing points provide another specific guide when choosing among the routes described.
Buildings and local history
The Iglesia de Santa Catalina is a Baroque building from the 17th century. Trenches near the Ermita de San Pedro served as Republican defensive positions during the retreat from the Teruel Front. The two sites represent different aspects of Olba’s history: sacred architecture and military history.
A bronze bust of Manuel Pertegaz, created by sculptor José Miguel Abril, was unveiled at Fuente de los Tres Caños in 2018. Along with the church and the trenches, this memorial provides another historical reference point. The three details point to different periods: the 17th century, the retreat from the Teruel Front and the unveiling in 2018.
Fruit and historic trade routes
The former fruit trade is also part of the town’s history: fruit from Olba was sold in nearby villages, while cherries were exported to Valencia. These destinations distinguish local sales from exports to Valencia. The history of trade thus adds an economic perspective from the past to the picture of a valley where vegetable and fruit crops are part of the landscape.
Discover more destinations: Terriente, Martín Del Río, Rubiales, Calomarde, Alcañiz, Pitarque, Cedrillas, Albarracín
For the main travel overview: Teruel.
