Spain Guide
Castilla-La Mancha
La Ciudad Encantada
Address: 20km northeast of Cuenca, on signed backroads towards Albarracín; no public transport
Opening time: Daily 10am– dusk
Price: €3
The classic excursion from Cuenca is to the Ciudad Encantada, a twenty-square-kilometre "park" of karst limestone outcrops, sculpted by erosion into a bizarre series of abstract, natural and animal-like forms. A few of the names – "fight between an elephant and a crocodile", for example – stretch the imagination a little, but the rocks are certainly amazing, and many of the creations really do look knocked into shape by human hands. The fantasy landscape was used as a backdrop for Arnold Schwarzenegger's first major film Conan the Barbarian.
The most interesting area of sculptures is enclosed, and the extensive car park and restaurants outside testify to its popularity with weekending madrileños. However, off season, or during the week, you can have the place almost to yourself.