Muela Pinilla y del Puntal Natural Monument

A muela on the north-eastern edge

The Natural Monument is in Masegosa, at the north-eastern end of the Serranía. It is a muela, a flat-topped limestone hill: a high, level table with steep sides, made of Cretaceous limestone and surrounded by valleys of Jurassic rock. Its synclinal structure gives it inverted relief, and water has worked the limestone heavily at the surface.

The tormagal

Its most valuable feature is its tormagal, an extensive «ciudad encantada» (enchanted city) of dolostone, with tormos, isolated rock towers, arches, rock alleys and small basins hollowed in the rock. Among the stones live plants such as Armeria trachyphylla, found only in Cuenca, Guadalajara and Teruel, and orchids such as Cephalanthera rubra. Scots pine dominates, with thickets of barberry, wild rose and juniper.

The Spanish moon moth, wildcat, genet, badger, red deer and wild boar live here.

The most striking part of the tormagal covers about a hundred hectares, with rock alleys up to ten metres deep and some up to fifteen wide, and many natural arches. The name comes from tormo, the isolated, prominent rock.

Plan your visit

The interpretive trail makes a 4.5 km circuit of the muela.

Before you travel

Follow the paths, without climbing the rocks. Mobile coverage is poor.

Combine with

The Torcas de Lagunaseca, in the neighbouring village, and Beteta.