At the Parrizal, planning includes a visitor limit and admission tickets: each person needs a ticket, which includes individual insurance. Check the access rules before your trip. The route includes a 1.6-kilometre unpaved round trip, with a botanical trail and the La Fenellassa rock paintings. The walk is also described as suitable for older visitors. The hike along the Parrizal walkway route follows the Matarraña upstream to its headwaters and is accessible only on foot.
Riverside trails and landscapes around Beceite
Els Estrets del Parrissal is a gorge about 1.5 metres wide, 60 metres high and 200 metres long. These measurements give a tangible sense of the landscape at the Parrizal. On nature trails, it is important to keep the route and conditions in mind: the first stage of the Matarraña–Algars nature trail begins near El Parrizal in the Puertos de Beceite, an area designated as an SCI and SPA, and follows the upper reaches of the Matarraña to Beceite.
The section along the upper reaches from El Parrizal to the Puertos de Beceite has walkways and safety ropes. However, you may need to walk in the riverbed in places, so take this section only when conditions are suitable and check them before setting out. On its way to Beceite, the stage reaches the aqueduct of the Acequia Mayor, passes the Ermita de Santa Ana and two bridges, and ends near the tourist information office.
At the Racó de Sant Antoni, a viewpoint with information panels explains how the river and erosion have shaped the mountain massif. A five-kilometre route also runs along the river. If travelling by car, you can use the car parks and take the paths to the natural pools. A three-kilometre paved path leads to the first natural pool, Toll de l’Olla. Access may be regulated seasonally; check the conditions in advance.
Historic town centre and architecture
In May 2007, Beceite’s historic centre was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest because of its monumental heritage. Four gateways from the former town fortifications remain: the Portal de la calle Llana, the Portal de Villanueva, the Portal de la Muralla and the Portal de Coll. Some were converted into open chapels. The Portal de San Gregorio is one such chapel, built over a gate in the town wall. Its outer pointed arch bears an upside-down crescent-moon coat of arms belonging to Pedro López de Luna, Archbishop of Zaragoza.
The Iglesia de San Bartolomé has a Baroque façade with a portal in two tiers. Construction was underway in 1726 and concluded with the church’s consecration in 1735. At the Ermita de Santa Ana, the chapel dates from the 17th century, while Romanesque remains in the sacristy belong to an older structure. The atrium has three large semicircular arches; the slender stone bell gable has a single opening. The Puente de Piedra is also part of the town’s historic architecture: this 16th-century bridge offers a view of waterfalls on the Matarraña.
The La Presoneta visitor centre is housed in a former watchtower, prison and town gate dating from the 12th century. At the Font de la Rabosa in the town centre, there are waterfalls and natural pools formed by weirs. Exploring the town lets you experience its architectural history and river landscape as two distinct aspects of Beceite.
Paper-making history and outdoor experiences
The Matarraña also shaped the history of paper-making in Beceite: its water was needed for production and powered machinery through waterwheels. There were once as many as nine paper mills here. Fábrica Noguera is a former 18th-century paper mill; Fábrica de papel del Pont Nou was built in 1899 and supplied paper for Heraclio Fournier playing cards. Many former factories were later converted into homes, hospitality and catering venues, or exhibition halls.
Part of the municipality has been a National Hunting Reserve since 1966. The Puertos are home to one of the most significant populations of Iberian ibex on the Iberian Peninsula. The rugged landscape around Beceite is suitable for mountain biking, climbing and horse riding; canyoning is also among the outdoor activities. This gives you a range of nature- and culture-focused options for planning your trip, without assuming that every activity follows the same route or has the same conditions.
Discover more destinations: San AgustĂn, Mas de las Matas, La Cerollera, Jabaloyas, Monreal Del Campo, Torrijo del Campo, SarriĂłn, La Cuba.
For the wider travel overview: Teruel.
