Much more than its lavender fields: the Spanish town that has an underground labyrinth of caves and tunnels

The Iberian Peninsula has a great variety of singularities throughout its territory. From ancient forests to impressive waterfalls and passing through steep mountains and cliffs, Spain is home to a large number of towns, places and fields waiting to be discovered.

In this way, the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha stands out not only for the natural gems it houses, but also for its towns full of history in which time seems to have stopped completely. The municipality of Brihuega, in the province of Guadalajara, is one of those outstanding places; endowed with vast fields and valuable monuments that make it an ideal alternative for lovers of rural tourism.

Whether for its extensive lavender production or its underground labyrinth full of caves and tunnels, visiting Brihuega represents a magical opportunity to discover everything that the La Mancha municipality has to offer. Therefore, knowing its history and some of the main places of interest is essential to organize a complete trip in which you can fully enjoy.

History of Brihuega

The history of the municipality of Brihuega is closely linked to that of Spain, since due to the strategic situation in which it is located, the town has been the site of some of the most important battles in the country. Although Iberian towns and ancient archaeological remains have been discovered, it was not until the Middle Ages when the town began to gain great notoriety.

So much so that Alfonso VI – before being crowned monarch – stayed in the town after fleeing the court due to problems with his father. Reason why, after the conquest of Toledo -and already being king- he donated the town to the Archbishopric of Toledo, who turned Brihuega into an enclave on par with some of the most important in the territory.

Years later, in 1710 and after comings and goings between the archbishopric and King Philip II, the municipality hosted two conflicts during the War of Spanish Succession; the assault on Brihuega, and the battle of the fields of Villaviciosa de Tajuña a day later, which marked the beginning of the Bourbon dynasty on the Spanish throne. In the same way, during the civil war the municipality was occupied by troops from Fascist Italy, which faced the Republican army in 1937, being one of the most mentioned conflicts throughout the entire conflict.

The Brihuega caves

One of the main attractions of the municipality of Brihuega are its Arab caves. Located in the Plaza del Coso, they were built between the 10th and 11th centuries and consist of more than 8 kilometers of labyrinthine galleries and tunnels that run through the entire Briocense subsoil.

The passageways were used in times of siege, as they had exterior escape routes that allowed communication with the Castle and escape to the outside of the walls. In addition, the caverns were used as food warehouses, since they have a constant ambient temperature of 12 degrees Celsius.

Currently, the passageways have a small sample of approximately 700 meters prepared to be visited in their entirety, allowing you to live an experience similar to that of the inhabitants of the time.

The lavender fields of Brihuega

Another of the main attractions of Brihuega are the vast lavender fields it has. The municipality has crops that exceed one thousand hectares of plantation, making it a spectacle that is both visual and sensory.

The lavender fields can be visited freely, as they are open all year round, although it is also possible to take a guided tour of the land. Although these are only held on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in July, when the lavender is still in the flowering process.

Heritage of the town of Brihuega

Given its marked history, the municipality of Brihuega has a great religious, civil and cultural heritage. One of the most notable monuments in the area is the Peña Bermeja Castle, located south of the urban center and of Muslim origin.

This surrounds part of the town of Brihuega with its walls – which date from the 11th and 12th centuries – and serves to faithfully represent the passage of the years and the multitude of conflicts that the town has experienced. In the same way, the monument still has two of its doors standing, the one with the Cozagón arch and the Puerta de la Cadena. Currently, the construction is used as a municipal cemetery. It is also possible to enjoy other civil and military monuments such as:

On the other hand, in the old town, which was declared a historical-artistic complex in 1973, it has three churches from the 13th century; the church of San Felipe, that of San Miguel and that of Santa María de la Peña. In addition, it is also possible to visit the Franciscan convent of San José and the remains of the old church of San Simón.