Ciudad Encantada – Cuenca, Spain - Atlas Obscura
Places near me Random place

Ciudad Encantada

Cuenca, Spain

Geological storytelling. 

View all photos
Battle of the Crocodile and the Elephant Xoan de Pez
The Mushrooms
The Bears
Sea of Stone
Roman Bridge
113
258
Top Places in Cuenca
Hanging Houses of Cuenca
Cuenca, Spain
Los Ojos de la Mora
Cuenca, Spain
Castilla-La Mancha Paleontological Museum
Cuenca, Spain
 See All

Nestled in a canyon within the borders of the Serranía de Cuenca Nature Reserve, Ciudad Encantada (“Enchanted City”) is home to a collection of rock formations that have been molded by the forces of nature to resemble an array of figures and scenes.

According to the official Spanish tourism website, these formations’ unusual shapes are the result of a unique mineral composition that causes the lower part of the formation to erode faster than the top. Popular attractions include the Sea of Stone, the Mushrooms, the Slide, the Lovers of Teruel, Battle of the Crocodile and the Elephant, and, of course, the Mushrooms.

geological oddities natural wonders geology nature
Community Contributors
Piedrasmagicas
Added by
Piedrasmagicas
Leslie McIntyre
Xavixavir
i
Annetta Black
Edited by
Leslie McIntyre, Xavixavir, irino4ka, Annetta Black
Published
January 18, 2013
Edit this listing
Make an Edit Add Photos
Nearby
Los Callejones de Las Majadas
5.47 miles
Hanging Houses of Cuenca
11.10 miles
Los Ojos de la Mora
11.17 miles
Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.
Near This Place
Photos by jfpozo
Las Majadas, Spain

Los Callejones de Las Majadas

"Alleys of Stone" form natural mazes in Spanish natural park.
Cuenca, Spain

Hanging Houses of Cuenca

Cliffside houses provide a spectacular view from their perch above the valley.
Los Ojos de la Mora.
Cuenca, Spain

Los Ojos de la Mora

Two large eyes painted anonymously on a mountain overlooking the city pay homage to an old legend.
Dinosaurs overlooking the valley.
Cuenca, Spain

Castilla-La Mancha Paleontological Museum

This museum is known as the "Land of the Dinosaurs," but its full-scale dino models are just the start.
Related Places
Winona, Missouri

Rocky Falls

A 40-foot waterfall flows into this unique natural swimming hole.
Slumgullion mass wasting area
Lake City, Colorado

Slumgullion Earthflow

This National Natural Landmark is one of the best examples of a “mass wasting” in the world.
Looking Glass Rock seen from the Looking Glass Rock Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Brevard, North Carolina

Looking Glass Rock

This granite rock face is named for the magnificent reflection that occurs when the sun hits it just right.
Sasso Menicante on Monte Cimino
Soriano nel Cimino, Italy

Sasso Menicante (Trembling Stone)

This massive rock balanced for thousands of years being tossed here during a volcanic eruption.
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

From Around the Web