Municipality in the Alto Palancia region, 35 km from Navajas. Located more than 1,000 metres above sea level, its municipal district is made up of the high plateau of El Toro-Barracas and the El Toro mountain range, an extension of the Javalambre mountain range, which is more than 1,600 metres high, making these points one of the coldest in the whole of the Valencian Community. The source of the Palancia river and the Municipal Natural Site of Pozo Junco* are located within the municipality.
The village of El Toro is dominated by the remains of its castle, of medieval origin and built on a small hill that houses the ruins of a primitive church, which originally had a defensive walled enclosure. In the town centre we can visit the Town Hall, built in 1570, the Church of Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles, from the 17th century, or the Hermitage of San Roque, built in the 14th century.
On the outskirts of the village, we find the old refrigerators, which were designed to preserve the snow for a longer period of time, and which are called `Nevera Honda´, `Nevera Alta´ and `Nevera Cerrito´. There are also remains of infrastructures built during the Spanish Civil War, such as trenches, shelters, a powder magazine and an aerodrome. Elements that we can discover by following the numerous existing routes and that can lead us to such spectacular spots as Pozo Junco, the small village of Molinar or the source of the Palancia river that we find in the ‘estrecho del collado del cascajar’.
The local saint festivities are held from 15 August onwards and other important festivities are San Antón in January and the threshing festivities in summer. It is also worth mentioning the Truffle Fair, which is held in this town every year at the end of November.
*The Municipal Natural Site of ‘El Pozo Junco’ was declared as such in 2004 and extended in 2012 to an area of 45,313 ha. This enclave is located more than 1,500 metres above sea level, flanked by the ravines of ‘Pozo Junco’ and ‘El Toro’. From here you can enjoy views of the Javalambre and El Toro mountain ranges. This protected area has vegetation typical of the highest mountain areas of the centre and east of the Iberian Peninsula, in which the creeping juniper stands out, a predominant formation in the site and which represents an ecosystem of great interest in the Valencian Community.
Information about the site: https://mediambient.gva.es/es/web/parajes-naturales-municipales/pnm-el-pozo-junco-toro