For centuries, farms have been the basis of life, economy and the landscape in most mountain areas in the north-east of the Iberian Peninsula. They are given different names in each region, but they all refer to a dispersed form of habitat, based on a subsistence farming economy, in mountain areas and distant from the towns. In the second half of the 20th century, the traditional hillfarms slowly disappeared as they were forced to transform their activity with modern equipment or by changing to tourist businesses. The farms are often in special places, near the best land and water sources, where the different buildings forming the farms were built: houses, stables, barn, well, etc.
On the Way of El Cid, travellers have the opportunity to discover many of these hillfarms, especially in the section between La Puebla de Valverde and Caudiel. Mas de Noguera is an example of this kind of farm, at the foot of the Sierra de Espina and isolated from the towns in the area. This was an attraction, over three decades ago, for a group of nature-lovers who restored the old abandoned farmhouse and began a project based on ecological agriculture and environmental education.
- Access by car: it can be reached along a tarmac road. A carpark is available. From the CV-195 road, just after the Pass of Las Arenillas (Kilometre 10.1), turn right on to a tarmac road 2.3km long that leads to Mas de Noguera.
- Access for people with limited mobility: there are no infrastructures adapted for people with limited mobility. However, much of the farm is accessible by wheelchair because of the hard ground surface.
- Legal protection: it forms part of the Site of Community Importance ES5223005 called High Palància.
- Seasonality: it can be visited at any time of the year.
- Recommendations, what to see and do: it is interesting to learn about the environmental education activities and agritourism carried out at Mas de Noguera. We recommend a guided tour around the different parts of the farm followed by a meal with its ecological products and the possibility of spending the night (book in advance).
Rev.: PAB 10.05.23