Alcalį del Jścar in the Province of Castilla La Mancha

Alcalį del Jścar, located in the north-east of the province of Albacete, is sited on a narrow peninsular which is surrounded by the river Jścar.

After leaving the Castilla-La-Manch plains, the river enters the rocky landscape of this region which is dominated by shrubs, grass and pine trees.

The town covers an area of almost 147 km² whilst having a population of just over 1500 inhabitants. To the east is the El Molinar dam which is also worth visiting if you are in this region of Spain.

Rainfall in this region is scarce, never exceeding more than 400 mm per year whilst temperatures range from just 4 degrees in the coldest months to an average of 24 degrees in the hottest.

The villagers are mainly land workers farming cereals such as wheat and barley although there are also olive groves and fruit orchard scattered around the hillsides.

An Arabic fortress overlooks the river and dominates the town and although the river and hills provided a superb defensive position, the towers were still built extremely high. An ancient church (built during the course of the 16th and 17th centuries) with a Gothic vault and a Baroque dome is built between the fortress and the town’s main square. A rather peculiar bullring is built on a hill just outside town with irregularly shaped stones and public stands.

There are many old cave houses in Alcalį del Jścar, which were once used as shelters, built into the hillsides above the river valley. Most of these are occupied to this day (with some having been converted into excellent old-fashioned restaurants) as they provide cool respite during the summer months and warmth in winter.

Between the 8th and 15th August each year, the villagers of Alcalį del Jścar hold a fiesta in honour of their Patron Saint, San Lorenzo.

You will love (and must try!!) some of the regions typical dishes, whose main ingredients include partridge, goat meat and pork.

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