Brihuega Old Town

Brihuega, in the Guadalajara province of Castile-La Mancha, Spain, is best known to most visitors for its lavender fields, but the town itself possesses one of the most intact medieval old towns in the Alcarria plateau region. Set on a spur above the Tajuña river, Brihuega was a Moorish settlement before its reconquest in the 12th century, and the Arab defensive wall — built using large limestone blocks and still standing in substantial sections along the northern edge of the old town — is among the best-preserved examples of Islamic military architecture in Guadalajara province. The 13th-century Castillo de Brihuega, built on the highest point of the promontory after the Christian reconquest, is now a ruin but its walls and tower stump are freely accessible and command views over the surrounding Alcarria countryside. The medieval street plan of the old town is largely unchanged, with a compact network of lanes converging on the Plaza Mayor and the 13th-century church of Santa María de la Peña — a Romanesque-Gothic building with a carved portal — and the church of San Felipe, both within easy walking distance. The Alameda gardens below the walls are a pleasant promenade, with views back up to the Arab wall and castle. Most visitors combine Brihuega old town with the surrounding lavender fields in late June and early July, but the town has year-round interest: the Plaza Mayor has cafés and bars, and the tranquil streets and medieval architecture reward a half-day visit at any season. The town is 35 kilometres from Guadalajara city by road and 100 kilometres from Madrid.