Alarcon Viewpoint overlooks the canyon of the Júcar at Alarcon, a walled village in the province of Cuenca, in central Spain. It occupies the remains of a castle tower above the river. The view takes in a 13th-century castle ringed by mountains, the canyon and the blue water below. The viewpoint is open at all hours and stands a few hundred metres from the village car parks. Waymarked footpaths run down into the canyon from close by, so it works as a starting point as well as a stop.
Alarcon Viewpoint
Local name: Mirador de Alarcón
The viewpoint is the top of a ruined castle tower, and the canyon it overlooks has a waymarked footpath running the length of it.
- Accessibility
- The entrance is not wheelchair accessible.
- Parking
- Two village car parks: La Carrera about 490 m from the viewpoint, and Coches about 820 m away, free of charge.
- Transport
- No bus or coach stop within 5 km of the viewpoint.
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, seven days a week.
What makes it special
The viewpoint stands on the remains of an old castle tower, so the platform is itself a ruin. Below it the ground drops into the river canyon, and the water at the bottom is blue. In the same view sits a 13th-century castle, ringed by the river with mountains behind it. That one composition is what people come up for. The canyon is not only scenery. A waymarked footpath runs along the river below, and from the tower you can trace the whole line of the walk before deciding whether to do it.
Good to know
- No toilets. There are none at the viewpoint, and none anywhere within 5 km of it.
- Drinking water. Two public fountains stand about 400 m away; one of them is the Fuente del Pilar.
- Trail boards. Information boards for the PR-CU71 and GR-64 footpaths stand about 350 m from the viewpoint.
- The canyon walk. The riverside route takes about an hour and a half and comes back up to the village plaza by the Parador.
Getting there
There is no bus or coach stop within 5 km, so the viewpoint is reached by car. Drive into Alarcon and leave the car in the village: the nearer car park is about 490 m from the viewpoint, the other about 820 m. The last stretch is on foot either way.
Sun & daylight
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Alarcon Viewpoint on the map
The tower is exposed and the wind on it is strong. Keep hold of hats, phones and children near the edge — the ground falls away to the canyon below.
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Frequently asked questions
What can you see from Alarcon Viewpoint?
A 13th-century castle ringed by mountains, the river below it and the canyon the water has cut.Is there a footpath down into the canyon?
Yes. The waymarked PR-CU71 and GR-64 routes pass close by, and information boards for them stand about 350 m from the viewpoint.Is the viewpoint open at night?
It is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.Can wheelchair users reach the viewpoint?
No. The entrance is not wheelchair accessible.