Guadalajara · Charming villages
The most beautiful villages in Guadalajara
A medieval town with a cathedral and castle, ducal towns in La Alcarria, lavender fields, black slate villages and one of the largest castles in Spain: the most beautiful villages in Guadalajara, very close to Madrid.
Updated 20 October 2026 · How we make our guides
Medieval towns
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SpainSigüenza
The cathedral with the tomb of the Doncel, the main square and the castle, now a parador, at the top.
What to see in Sigüenza -
SpainAtienza
A castle perched on a crag, arcaded squares and Romanesque churches in a medieval town.
What to see in Atienza -
SpainMolina de Aragón
One of the largest castles in Spain, the Torre de Aragón and a Romanesque bridge over the river Gallo.
What to see in Molina de Aragón
La Alcarria
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SpainPastrana
The ducal town of the Princess of Éboli, with her palace and a collegiate church that holds Flemish tapestries.
What to see in Pastrana -
SpainBrihuega
Lavender fields in early summer around a town with walls and a castle.
What to see in Brihuega
Black architecture
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SpainValverde de los Arroyos
Slate houses at the foot of Pico Ocejón and a waterfall a short walk from the village.
What to see in Valverde de los Arroyos -
SpainTejera Negra Beech Forest
One of the southernmost beech forests in Europe, red and gold in autumn, near the black villages.
What to see in Tejera Negra Beech Forest
Frequently asked questions
What are the most beautiful villages in Guadalajara?
Sigüenza, Atienza and Molina de Aragón for their medieval past; Pastrana and Brihuega in La Alcarria; and Valverde de los Arroyos among the villages of black architecture.
When does the lavender bloom in Brihuega?
Usually between late June and July; the exact timing changes every year depending on the weather.
What are the black villages?
Villages in the Sierra de Ayllón built of dark slate, such as Valverde de los Arroyos, Majaelrayo or Campillo de Ranas.
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More travel ideas
- The most beautiful villages in Castilla-La Mancha
- Day trips from Madrid
- Medieval villages in Spain
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Reviewed 20 October 2026. Dates and seasonal warnings: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.
Cover photo: Cillas (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikimedia Commons.