Camarena de la Sierra

Architectural Heritage

• Castle of Camarena de la Sierra (“El Castillejo”), of Muslim origin, located on a hilltop near the village.
• Church of Saint Matthew, a Baroque temple from the 16th–17th centuries, dominating the urban center.
• Hermitage of Saint Roch, built in 1644, in Mudejar style with masonry and brick.
• Ethnological Heritage, Groups of corrals, mountain houses, and the village’s traditional structure.

Natural Heritage

Known as “the village of a hundred springs”, its municipal area is home to many fountains — Matahombres, Blanquilla, Zarcillo, among others.

Situated in the heart of the Sierra de Javalambre, the area boasts great botanical and forest diversity: pines, junipers, maples, and valuable mountain habitats.

Feast of Saint Paul – Held on the last Saturday of June, it commemorates a battle (“La Matanza”) that took place around 1210, during the Middle Ages. It is a pilgrimage to the hermitage atop the mountain (1,794 m). A mass is held, followed by a procession with songs of praise. Bread and wine are shared among the attendees, and families gather to eat on the meadow next to the hermitage. Until the late 20th century, locals would climb on foot or on horseback; today, it can be reached by car.

Cultural Festivities in August – Originating in the 1970s, they are now the town’s most important celebrations, featuring contests, open-air dances, bull events, and more.

Festivities of Saint Matthew – In honor of the town’s patron saint. Held on the weekend closest to September 21, with contests, dances, bull events, and a cooking competition of gachas and omelets on Monday. The Town Council gives a gift to all participants.

In Camarena de la Sierra, cuisine combines traditional Aragonese flavors with the richness of mountain ingredients — garlic soups, migas, legumes, select meats, and local products, creating an ideal culinary experience after a mountain hike.