{"id":1524,"date":"2026-09-18T14:51:02","date_gmt":"2026-09-18T12:51:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lagunasdeballesteros.org\/?post_type=noticia&p=1524"},"modified":"2026-09-18T15:00:04","modified_gmt":"2026-09-18T13:00:04","slug":"what-to-see-near-ballesteros-lagoons","status":"publish","type":"noticia","link":"https:\/\/lagunasdeballesteros.org\/en\/noticia\/que-ver-cerca-lagunas-ballesteros\/","title":{"rendered":"What to see near the Ballesteros Lagoons: Arcas, Villar de Olalla, and Valdet\u00f3rtola"},"content":{"rendered":"

Just a few kilometers from Cuenca, the Ballesteros Lagoons<\/strong> they form a landscape of more than thirty lagoons and sinkholes on gypsum. The area extends across the municipal districts of Arcas, Villar de Olalla and Valdet\u00f3rtola<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

A visit to the lagoons can also be a good opportunity to get to know the villages and landscapes of their surroundings better. Heritage, paths along the J\u00facar river, and small rural hamlets allow you to complete the trip without getting too far from Cuenca.<\/p>\n\n\n

What to see in Arcas<\/h2>\n\n

Arcas, in the province of Cuenca<\/strong>, is located just a few minutes from the capital and is one of the municipalities linked to the Ballesteros Lagoons.<\/p>\n\n

One of its main heritage elements is the Church of Our Lady of the Nativity<\/strong>, one of the prominent examples of Romanesque architecture in the province of Cuenca. Its semicircular apse and medieval architecture make it an interesting stop to complete a visit to the lagoons.<\/p>\n\n

Some of the lagoons in the complex are located within its municipal boundaries, in a setting of fields and gentle relief.<\/p>\n\n

\n \n More information about Arcas in Castilla-La Mancha Tourism\n <\/a>.\n<\/p>\n\n

\n \"Church\n
\n Church of Our Lady of the Nativity of Arcas.\nPhoto: MottaW \/\n Wikimedia Commons<\/a>,\n CC BY-SA 4.0 license.\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n

\n \n Learn more about the Ballesteros Lagoons and their karst landscape \u2192<\/strong>\n <\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n

What to see in Villar de Olalla<\/h2>\n\n

Villar de Olalla, in the province of Cuenca<\/strong>, is very close to the capital and is another one of the municipalities within whose territory the Ballesteros Lagoons are located.<\/p>\n\n

In the town, the stands out Parish Church of the Nativity of Our Lady<\/strong>. The municipality is located in a transitional landscape between the Cuenca countryside and the first elevations of the Serran\u00eda, featuring farmland, holm oak groves, and areas of Mediterranean scrubland.<\/p>\n\n

Villar de Olalla is also crossed by the J\u00facar Nature Trail<\/strong>. One of its stages connects this environment with Cuenca, making it an interesting option for those who also want to explore the area on foot or by bicycle.<\/p>\n\n

\n \n Check the stage of the J\u00facar Nature Trail\n <\/a>.\n<\/p>\n\n

\n \"Square\n
\n Villar de Olalla.\n Photo: Uviein \/\n Wikimedia Commons<\/a>,\n CC BY-SA 4.0 license.\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n

\n \n More information about Villar de Olalla in Castilla-La Mancha Tourism\n <\/a>.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

What to see in Valdet\u00f3rtola<\/h2>\n\n

Valdet\u00f3rtola, in the province of Cuenca<\/strong>, is the third municipality over which the Ballesteros Lagoons extend. It is formed by the population centers of Valdeganga de Cuenca, T\u00f3rtola and Olmedilla de Arcas<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

Its rural character and proximity to the protected area help to understand the territory where the lagoons are located, a landscape where agricultural uses, small towns, and natural environments coexist.<\/p>\n\n

\n \"Panoramic\n
\n T\u00f3rtola, one of the villages that make up Valdet\u00f3rtola.\nPhoto: Villy thebest \/\n Wikimedia Commons<\/a>,\n CC BY-SA 3.0 license.\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n

The Ballesteros Lagoons, the common thread<\/h2>\n\n

Arcas, Villar de Olalla and Valdet\u00f3rtola share the same protected natural area. The Ballesteros Lagoons<\/strong> They are sinkholes formed by the dissolution of underground gypsum. Some are permanent, while others depend on rain and runoff and dry up during part of the year.<\/p>\n\n

That is why the landscape can change a lot from one season to another. Finding some of the lagoons dry in summer is part of their natural functioning.<\/p>\n\n

\n \n Why do the Ballesteros Lagoons dry up in summer?<\/strong>\n <\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n

A wetland in the process of restoration<\/h2>\n\n

The project LIFE Ballesteros<\/strong> Work takes place between 2026 and 2029 on the restoration of the lagoon system, with actions aimed at recovering its hydrological functioning, improving natural habitats, and favoring biodiversity.<\/p>\n\n

\n \n Learn about the LIFE Ballesteros project \u2192<\/strong>\n <\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n

A different kind of visit near Cuenca<\/h2>\n\n

The Ballesteros Lagoons allow visitors to discover a lesser-known part of the surroundings of Cuenca and also get closer to the towns that share this territory.<\/p>\n\n

As it is a protected natural area, during the visit it is important to use the existing paths, observe the wildlife from a distance, and avoid altering the vegetation and waterlogged areas.<\/p>\n\n

\n \n Discover the Ballesteros Lagoons \u2192<\/strong>\n <\/a>\n<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A solo unos kil\u00f3metros de Cuenca, las Lagunas de Ballesteros forman un paisaje de m\u00e1s de treinta lagunas y dolinas sobre yeso. El espacio se extiende por los t\u00e9rminos municipales de Arcas, Villar de Olalla y Valdet\u00f3rtola. Una visita a las lagunas puede ser tambi\u00e9n una buena oportunidad para conocer mejor los pueblos y paisajes […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1525,"template":"","tipo-de-noticia":[20,18],"class_list":["post-1524","noticia","type-noticia","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tipo-de-noticia-comunidad","tipo-de-noticia-proyecto"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lagunasdeballesteros.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/noticia\/1524","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lagunasdeballesteros.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/noticia"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lagunasdeballesteros.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/noticia"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lagunasdeballesteros.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1525"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lagunasdeballesteros.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1524"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"tipo-de-noticia","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lagunasdeballesteros.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tipo-de-noticia?post=1524"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}