Logbook · 5 places

What to see and do in Ráfales

What to see and do in Ráfales (Matarraña, Teruel): 5 places across monuments, nature, activities and curiosities, with a photo and a Google Maps location.

1 Villages · 1 Monuments · 2 Activities · 1 Food and drink

How far each place is from the centre of Ráfales

Historic-Artistic Ensemble of Ráfales 50 m

Towns near Ráfales

What to see in Fuentespalda 5.1 km · 6 places
What to see in La Portellada 5.7 km · 3 places
What to see in La Cerollera 6.4 km · 3 places
What to see in Fórnoles 6.6 km · 4 places
What to see in Monroyo 7.1 km · 5 places
What to see in Belmonte de San José 8.3 km · 3 places
What to see in Peñarroya de Tastavins 9.3 km · 6 places
What to see in La Cañada de Verich 11 km · 3 places

Spain › Aragon › Teruel › Matarraña › Ráfales

What to see and do in Ráfales

Ráfales
Village
Ráfales, Ràfels in Catalan, is a municipality in the Matarraña comarca, in the province of Teruel, whose name comes from the Arabic raḥl (wayside inn, farmstead, masía). With 149 inhabitants, it sits on the crest of a rocky hill in the Tastavins river basin, at 627 metres above sea level, amid mountains and ravines of the sierra de las Viñas. Its triangular urban layout, with strong gates and arcades, is an example of Hispanic medieval town planning, declared a Conjunto Histórico-Artístico (Spain's historic-artistic heritage designation). On one side of the plaza Mayor stands the church of la Asunción, from the 14th century, which the people of Ráfales colloquially call "la Assumpta" and which was declared a Bien de Interés Cultural (Spain's highest level of heritage protection) in 1983.
Historic-Artistic Ensemble of Ráfales
Monument
The settlement of Ráfales, in the Matarraña area of the province of Teruel, declared a historic-artistic ensemble and set high above the río Tastavins with a markedly defensive character. Its triangular layout, with strong gates and porches, is considered an example of Hispanic medieval town planning. It preserves remains of the old castle of the Order of Calatrava, with restored walls and façade, and several 17th-century doorways scattered throughout its streets. The church of la Asunción, from the 14th century and declared a Bien de Interés Cultural (Spain's highest level of heritage protection) in 1983, holds carved corbels and, on its exterior, a stone with the star of Occitania that may come from a Cathar tomb.
Festivities of Ráfales
Activity
Ráfales, declared a historic-artistic site despite its small size, is one of the villages of the Matarraña where pastissets or casquetas are prepared, sweet pastries filled with cabello de ángel (candied squash) served during the patronal festivities and at Christmas.
Festivities of invierno de Ráfales
Activity
Ráfales's winter festival is held in a village declared a historic-artistic site despite its small size, where pastissets or casquetas are made, sweet pastries typical of the Matarraña.
Pastissets or casquetas
Food and drink
Sweet turnovers of oil and anise dough, filled with angel-hair jam or with pumpkin jam and dusted with sugar. They are the most widespread sweet of the Matarraña and are prepared at the patron saint festivities and at Christmas in almost all the towns of the comarca.