The road into Fuertescusa’s town centre passes through the Puerta del Infierno, a group of tunnels carved into the gorge. In addition to this approach, trip planning can include several hiking trails, landscape landmarks and 15th-century architecture. The routes differ in shape, difficulty and scenery; a stroll through the town complements the hiking options.

Hiking trails with different profiles

Several hiking trails start in the town centre. The SL-CU 13 Sendero del Cañizar is a 6.00 km circular route with a low difficulty level. El Repetidor is shorter, at 3.1 km, and is rated as moderately difficult. If you are looking for both a circular route and an easy level of difficulty, the Cañizar trail description meets both criteria; El Repetidor is the shorter, moderately difficult alternative.

The PR-CU 115 Sendero de la Dehesa has a short variant suitable for mountain biking. Near Las Modorras, the route passes numerous remains of old livestock enclosures. These remains give the trail a historical dimension in addition to its outdoor activity. The SL-CU 12 Sendero del Hocino runs through the Hocino, a narrow valley with vertical limestone walls, and continues to the Via Ferrata de la Piedra del Castillo.

Landscape and regional setting

The SL-CU 13 Sendero del Cañizar starts at the Fuente del Bronchero recreation area. The Campanas del Tío Milhombres tufa slope formation lies close to this starting point. The PR-CU 114 Sendero del Cucurucho y la Hocecilla ends on the banks of the Escabas River and runs through a protected ZEPA bird protection area. The El Repetidor route leaves Fuertescusa via Fuente Grande and climbs through a pine forest. The landscape landmarks therefore differ distinctly: a tufa formation near the start, a riverbank as the endpoint, and a climb through a pine forest.

Fuertescusa is the gateway to the area known as the “Selva Negra” of Cuenca and is part of the Parque Astronómico de la Serranía Conquense, which has been designated a Starlight Tourist Destination. These connections place the town in two distinct contexts: access to a named natural area and membership in an award-winning astronomical park. Fuertescusa also has around 100 springs, many of which still flow. They are a distinctive local landscape feature alongside the broader regional designations.

A stroll through the town and its architecture

The Lavadero de la Dehesa is one of the places you can discover on a stroll through Fuertescusa. The Iglesia de San Martín Obispo is an example of 15th-century rural parish architecture. The architectural context connects a building type with a specific historical period, while the Lavadero is associated with exploring the town.

Discover more destinations: Villamayor De Santiago, Almodóvar del Pinar, Rozalén Del Monte, Poyatos, Valverdejo, La Peraleja, Yémeda, La Almarcha

For the broader travel overview: Cuenca.