There have been a number of people who have requested more information about the Paradors in Spain. And, which was my favorite. (This one, the history is fascinating.)

It was difficult to find pictures of the Hanging Houses in Cuenca, Spain. I had to use Bing for the excellent pictures because we had not been there and wanted information.

The 1992 book, “Discovering, Spain, an uncommon guide” by Penelope Casas  gave us vital history of the area.

Cuenca  hangs at the edge of a rocky spur, ringed by gently rounded cliffs and flanked by surrounding rivers the, Jucar and the Hucar.

Cuenca is an impenetrable fortress, approachable only by way of a narrow bridge crossing  a shallow moat. That strip of land was the only point that the city needed man-made protection.

Lower left is the Parador while the Hanging Houses are across the river and around the cliffs. Notice that the bridge crossing the river runs up to the highway and up and through the houses. This was the only place where Cuenca needed man made protection and was defended by thick fortified walls.

This was a 6th C. convent abandoned and later converted to a parador. It is directly opposite of the hanging houses and has a wonderful view.

This is a grand place to go for an afternoon break and a drink after walking miles and miles of the town.

With energy left one could avail themselves of the swimming pool.

The Hanging Houses of Cuenca, backed by the cliffs, rise more than a dozen stories over the rivers, but from the medieval streets that wind and twist up and down from the central Plaza Mayor, the houses are just three and four floors high. The best way to see them is from a distance.

We haven’t been here yet, but from all this information and the pictures, there is no way we’re going to miss this site and the Hanging Houses, and maybe over imbibing after entering one of the structures!

1/16/2017