Rural holiday in Spain: Discover Cehegin, in Murcia

Spain hides some really fantastic places, the Region of Murcia. If you want to visit the most striking places in Murcia and enjoy a memorable rural holiday in Spain, look no further than Cehegín.

Cehegin: Rural Wonder of Spain 2019

The art and cultural attractions in Cehegín are sure to give you an insight into the town’s artwork, history and traditions. While exploring the local cultural attractions would be enlightening, attending the city’s artsy events will keep you entertained. For these and many more reasons, Cehegín has been voted the first Rural Wonder of Spain 2019 by the visitors of the HomeAway website and it’s one of the best destinations for a rural holiday in Spain.

Cehegín is situated in the northwest side of the region of Murcia, with Bullas and Mula to the east, Caravaca de la Cruz to the west, Lorca to the south and Moratalla and Calasparra to the north. The undeniable charm of this historic city doesn’t go unnoticed. The natural beauty easily blends in well with the city, with plant life, vegetation and water around every side, providing at one-with-nature vibe. 

In the latest edition held in 2019, HomeAway continues to publicize and promote rural tourism. The website maintains its commitment to the industry with the celebration of this event, which aims to recognize and reward the most beautiful rural destinations in the country. 

Cehegín has just over 16,000 residents and consists of rocky, mountainous terrain, lush plains, forest-covered areas and many natural water supplies, a range of factors that have made the city so appealing to people for many years now. 

The Sierra de Gilico y Cambrones, Sierra de la Puerta, Sierra de Burete, and the Sierra de la Lavia are all crucial attractions, as are the two rivers Quípar and Argos. 

Cehegin: History

Inhabited by the Arabs, Argarics, Byzantines, Romans, Iberians, Visigoths and the Reconquist Christian forces, Cehegín has an interesting history. 

The name ‘Cehegín’ is often associated with that of a North African tribe called Zenaga, Senajeli or Senhaja. Many people from this tribe immigrated to Spain in the 11th century and the whole of this region has been greatly influenced by the many different cultures that set up shop here. Re-conquered by Alfonso VI with around 1000 horsemen and tens of thousands of infantrymen, Cehegín is one huge hilltop monument. 

The area has always been a great source of marble, mostly crimson marble, which is exported to far-flung countries such as Argentina and Japan. Agriculture has also played a major role in the development of the area, with almond, olive and vines often grown on the drier regions, and peach and apricot grown on the more fertile lands. In recent times, the growth has been evident with the cultivation of plants underneath plastic poly-tunnels. Most of the local produce is processed into fruit juices within the town. 

Rural holiday in Spain: Why choosing Cehegin?

Today, Cehegín boasts a thriving tourism industry thanks to its charm and location. The city is a great destination for anyone who loves nature and culture, and that is why it is one of the top destionations for a rural holiday in Spain.

From Cehegín, visitors can explore the northwest, which offers numerous tourist attractions of its own. These include Begastri, an archaeological site located in the Cabezo de Roenas hillside, just 3 kilometers from the city of Cehegín. This magnificent Old Quarter offers plenty of historic buildings and is set on the Vía Verde, a one-time railway line – which is now a strategic walking, biking and pilgrimage route connecting Caravaca with Murcia. 

In the immediate vicinity of Cehegín is the Peña Rubia, which houses an impressive series of prehistoric rock paintings that are protected by UNESCO. What’s nice about this impressive site is that, besides the prehistoric rock paintings, there are many archeological remains. These can be found in the Municipal Archaeological Museum, which is situated in the Casa del Concejo and Palacio de los Fajardos and is near a popular church – the Iglesia of Maria Magdalena.

The old quarter is packed with beautiful family homes dating from as early as the 17th century, including the Hospital de la Real Piedad, la Casa del Conde de Campillos, and the Palacio de Jaspe, as well as famous churches such as Santuario de las Maravillas, Ermita de la Sangre de Cristo and the Ermita de la Concepción.

Cehegín also hosts a number of festivals throughout the year, all drawing a lot of visitors to the area. These include the Fiesta of San Sebastian, Semana Santa, Carnival, Fiestas patronales, and the Feria of San Roque. The city also hosts a special monthly artisan market, locally known as the El Mesoncico. 

Cehegín also make the most of its natural resources with its unique Parque Ecológico and regular guided walks to promote scenic spots of the municipality. 

The city and municipality of Cehegín may not be as famous as other Spanish cities, but don’t let that deceive you! This small but wonderful tourist destination is well worth a place in your itinerary if you are thinking about a rural holiday in Spain. You’ll be amazed by some of the many interesting places to explore, as well as things to do and see at this hidden gem. You might even want to visit again, take a break or relax at this Rural Wonder of Spain 2019!

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