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Water · Fuentes

River Moscas

The River Moscas rises in Fuentes itself, beneath a bridge known as the Romanesque bridge. It flows quietly to join the Júcar near Cuenca, forming the hollows of the lake complex along its course. Fuentes, a chartered town since 1557, has numerous springs and a 15th-century church around which the old centre is arranged.

Stone bridge over the River Moscas
A bridge over the River Moscas, in Cuenca. Photo: «Puente romano sobre el río Moscas. Cuenca.», Ramonpeco (2012) · CC BY-SA 3.0
Municipality
Fuentes
  • River Moscas
  • Fuentes
  • Source
  • Romanesque bridge
  • Júcar

A river rising in the village

Fuentes is full of springs, and the River Moscas emerges beneath a bridge built over the source itself. The river flows quietly down to the Júcar near Cuenca, and along its course the hollows of the lake complex opened. The village drew most of its drinking water from Fuente de San Sebastián, which has its own legends.

A chartered town from 1557

Before resettlement, Celtiberians and Visigoths lived here, and a small Iron Age settlement was found nearby. After conquering Cuenca in 1177, Alfonso VIII ordered the frontier resettled, and people said to have come from Extremadura settled at the Moscas’s headwaters. Felipe II made Fuentes a chartered town on 2 December 1557, when it had 259 households: the title brought its own pastures and wood pastures, two mayors, a bailiff, councillors, gallows, pillory, prison and stocks. It later reached around 508 households, with a hospital and a charcoal factory.

The church, dating from the 15th century with its finest work in the 16th, organises the old centre.

Plan your visit

Combine with

The Moscas lakes, along their interpretive trail, and the village of Fuentes.

The bed of the Moscas between stone walls in Fuentes, with vegetation and houses beside the river
The Moscas as it passes through Fuentes. Photo: «Fuentes 25», 19Tarrestnom65 (2018) · CC BY-SA 4.0
Single-arched stone bridge over the River Moscas, with the hermitage and houses of Fuentes beyond
The bridge over the Moscas in Fuentes, in 2018. Photo: «Fuentes 24», 19Tarrestnom65 (2018) · CC BY-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

Where does the Moscas rise?

In Fuentes, which has numerous springs. A bridge was built over the source itself, called the Romanesque bridge in the municipal tourism menu; the website gives no date or details.

When did Fuentes become a chartered town?

Felipe II granted it the title on 2 December 1557, following Carlos V's instructions, with 259 households. It gained its own pastures and wood pastures, two ordinary mayors, a bailiff, councillors and rights to gallows, pillory, prison and stocks.

Carry on from here

Lands and landscapes

From here, follow the memory of the land

These readings connect River Moscas with the stories, the work and the villages around it.

Where it is

Location of River Moscas Albaladejo del CuendeChillarón de CuencaArguisuelasBuenache de la SierraCañada del HoyoCarboneras de GuadazaónCardeneteLa CiervaCuencaChumillasFresneda de AltarejosFuentesMonteagudo de las SalinasOlmeda del ReyPajarónPajaroncilloPalomeraParacuellosLa Parra de las VegasReílloSolera de GabaldónValdemorillo de la SierraValdemoro-SierraVillar de OlallaYémedaValdetórtolaLas ValerasFuentenava de JábagaArcas PR-CU 21: Ruta de la fuente de MarimingoPR-CU 35: Sendero de Los CeñosPR-CU 36: Sendero de la hoz del HuécarPR-CU 83: Sendero de las LagunasPR-CU 87: Sendero de la Cañada Real de los ChorrosPR-CU 88: Sendero de la Colada del Barranco de la PalancosaSL-CU 10: Ruta de las Hoces de CuencaSL-CU 11: Ruta de la hoz del Júcar y San JuliánSL-CU 3: Hoz del río Gritos y páramos de Las Valeras Fuentes
In colour, the municipality. The place does not yet have a verified location, so no point is drawn. Municipal boundaries: © IGN (CC BY 4.0). Route lines: simplified official tracks; source and GPX on each page.
Where the data on this page come from
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Municipality (INE code)

«Source consulted»: the primary source has been read. «Reference located»: the source has been identified but not yet read. «Open question»: the figure needs confirmation.