Las Majadas

A village made of shepherds’ folds

Las Majadas lies in Serranía Alta (upper Serranía), in the heart of the Natural Park. It takes its name from the majada (stock fold), the shelter where shepherds gathered their flock at dusk, and grew out of seasonal livestock migration: the first to settle are thought to have been shepherds from Poyatos, beside the Pozo de las Ánimas. Remains of graves and the Cueva de los Moros point to earlier inhabitants. It is one of the coldest villages in the mountains.

After the conquest of Cuenca it passed through the hands of the Jaraba and Albornoz families and became a town under direct Crown jurisdiction, unusual among the mountain lordships. In 1752 it had tailors, weavers and an apothecary. The church of Nuestra Señora del Sagrario preserves an altarpiece from 1618 and a Mudéjar timber ceiling.

The inhabitants are called majaeros; historian Miguel Romero explains this as a shortened form of majaderos, those who tended the folds, although no study confirms it.

Los Callejones

Los Callejones are passages and towers of limestone opened by water dissolving the rock: one of the Park’s best karrens. Nearby are the Cascada del Fraile, which flows only seasonally, and the Tío Cogote viewpoint.

In the village is a circular shelter inspired by shepherds’ huts, with a stable beside it. The European LIFE Cañadas project scheduled roof repairs, insulation and furnishing for 2021; the article reporting it does not say whether this was done.

In June 2026, the Town Council and El Hosquillo accommodation hosted the Trashumancias 2.6 project incubator. Students were preparing around ten projects to carry out in autumn; the same article sometimes mentions ten students and sometimes twelve.

On 3 May, for the Cruz de Mayo, a tower of firewood is burnt, the cross is decorated with box, yew and butcher’s broom, a procession goes to the cemetery and hot chocolate with caridad, charitable food, is served in the former parish hall. On 10 May 2025 the village hosted the Trashumancias 2.5 Living Lab, with talks, mentoring and theatre; pensioners lent their premises and helped with meals.

Routes

• PNSC-S2, Los Callejones: 3.6 km and an hour and a half among the rocks. The track to the car park leaves the forest road towards the CM-2105, just over 2.5 km from the village.
• PR-CU 28 (short-distance trail), Las Fuentecillas y Los Callejones: 12.5 km from the village, beneath the cliffs and then above them, with views of the Júcar valley, to Los Callejones.
• PR-CU 104, through the Dehesa de los Olmos: 14.5 km.

Plan your visit

Start with PNSC-S2, a short walk. With a full day, PR-CU 28 adds views of the Júcar.

Before you travel

The karren has fissures and sharp edges: wear firm-soled footwear and take care in narrow passages. In winter the forest tracks may have ice or snow.

Combine with

Portilla is 5 km away in a straight line; Villalba de la Sierra and Uña, 9 km.