Enchanted City

("Enchanted City") lies in a 20 sq. km. nature reserve, 36 km. north of Cuenca in the Jucar valley, southeast of Madrid, and resembles a ruined village with its labyrinth of unusual eroded rock formations in the Serranla de Cuenca, a stretch of mountains and green-moss rivers and pine forests. This regional park has river-washed stones in the shapes of mushrooms, bears, and human figures. According to american tourists the wonder of this place can be compared to the bizarreness of southern Utah. It is much like an ancient city, although the blocks of giant limestone here come from the erosion of millennia. The walk through the Ciudad Encantada is easy and well-worn but spectacular nonetheless. In summer, this area is covered by flowers, including rare species of orchids find their way in the deep river gorges here.