Belmonte, a small town in the province of Cuenca with less than 2,000 inhabitants, boasts a rich heritage of noble houses, arches, convents, and legends. The town is also home to a castle, whose walls enclose hidden treasures. The castle has been the location for Hollywood productions, including the film ‘El Cid’, starring Charlton Heston, which was partly filmed in Belmonte in 1961. A documentary is currently being filmed about the actor’s superproductions, which may be nominated for an Oscar in 2024. Belmonte has been on the world’s cinematic stage before, when ‘El Cid’ was nominated for three Oscars in 1962.
The mayor of Belmonte, Cristina Delgado, attributes the town’s cinematic success to the Gothic-Mudejar castle, which is the landmark attraction. Built in the 15th century, the castle was commissioned by Juan Pacheco and is a unique one-story fortress in Spain. It is the driving force for Belmonte’s development, boasting nearly 500 hotel rooms and 12 bars and restaurants.
The Colégiate Church of San Bartolomé, built on the foundations of a Visigothic church, is a national treasure and a jewel of the town’s architectural and artistic heritage. It contains the oldest choir in Spain and the restoration of the Chapel of the Annunciation grille is bringing out its impressive colours. The castle walls are home to three of the original five gates, one of which the Catholic monarchs passed through to visit the castle in 1488.
Belmonte is also the birthplace of illustrious figures such as Fray Luis de León and the Infante Don Juan Manuel, whose palace now serves as a Castile-La Mancha hostel. Other notable monuments include the former convents of Franciscans and Jesuits, the chapel of the Virgen de Gracia, and uncemented windmills such as ‘El Puntal’, which can be visited.
The town is a tourism hub, with a rural tourism application that provides information on all of its monuments, bars, restaurants, and hotels. The app also offers plans for the region, helping to draw families to spend several days in Belmonte and the surrounding area. The district has numerous attractions, including Segóbriga, the Uclés Monastery, and Villasecusa de Haro. The mayor is enthusiastic about enhancing the tourism industry, highlighting the town’s development initiatives, such as a children’s treasure hunt that takes visitors on a tour of Belmonte’s heritage sites.
The best time to visit Belmonte is in spring and autumn, due to the summer heat of La Mancha, although the town is bustling with visitors during the August San Bartolomé festival and the September Nuestra Señora de Gracia festival. Belmonte’s tourism industry is thriving, and the town’s heritage, cinematic history, and hospitality make it an ideal destination for family vacations.
