Aragon is a land of great cultural, gastronomic and heritage attractions. From Huesca to Teruel there are towns, cities and natural spaces where you can escape for a weekend or a long weekend. And to make the experience even more satisfying, the region has magnificent accommodations such as this marvelous hotel in Matarraña, a former mill and today one of the most charming hotels in so-called “Spanish Tuscany”.
We will talk about this hotel below, but first, some information about this area of ​​Aragon and a review of the types of accommodation in the Matarraña region.
Where is Matarraña
The region is located to the northeast of the province of Teruel, on the border with Tarragona. Its capital is Valderrobles (the main one of its 20 municipalities) and the Matarraña river passes through the area, which gives its name to the region.
Crossing between the autonomous communities of Valencia, Catalonia and Aragon, Matarraña is also the end of the Iberian System that connects with the mountain range of southern Catalonia. Given the proximity to this region, in Matarraña Spanish and a variant of Catalan are spoken. Its proximity to the sea has also created a mix of inland and Mediterranean climate very similar to that of the Italian west coast. This, added to the great heritage of this region of Bajo Aragón, has led to Matarraña being called the “Spanish Tuscany”.
What types of accommodation can be found in Matarraña
If we now focus on the hotel offer in the region, we must highlight how linked it is to the local heritage, which extends to the Iberian period with various sites. But the great attraction of the region lies in the buildings erected in the Middle Ages, such as the famous Castle of Valderrobles or the Hermitage of Santa Ana, in Calaceite. In addition, of course, to more modern heritage from the Late Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
Well, the tourism sector has taken advantage of this heritage to offer authentic accommodation experiences in hotels, hostels, rural houses and even hostels located in palaces, rustic houses and even mills, as is the case of the Hotel Cresol, proclaimed best small hotel in Spain in 2016 and which we will talk about later. Added to this list is La Fonda de la Plaza, in Valderrobles and located in a 14th-century palace, facing the river and its bridge. O Molà de l’Hereu, fully renovated to offer even a complete Spa.
The fact that most of the hotel offer in Matarraña is based on old buildings does not mean that the benefits and services are of low quality. Quite the contrary: both hotels, hostels and rural houses have WiFi, facilities adapted for people with disabilities, full bathrooms (even with a Jacuzzi in some accommodation) and restaurants with quality local cuisine.
In summary, those seeking a balance between rustic accommodation with good contemporary hotel services have an ideal destination in the Matarraña region.
Hotel Cresol: Mill converted into a hotel in the Matarraña region
Precisely an example of this commitment is the Hotel Cresol, in Calaceite and which, as we said before, won the award for the best small hotel in Spain in 2016, having only 6 rooms.
The size of the accommodation has to do with the fact that a small old mill from the 17th century has been used . Although reconditioned, as seen in the image above, remains of the old mill have been maintained. In this case to reform it as a cellar.
Hotel Cresol also stands out precisely for the experiences it offers its visitors. Matarraña is a region where the production of wine and oil have been engines of the economy for centuries, and the hotel could not help but adapt in this regard. For this reason, together with the reservation, these experiences can be contracted to be enjoyed in the hotel itself and in the hands of culinary professionals.
