Marco Topo in Huéscar

Discover Huéscar by playing

Huéscar is full of history, unusual stories and fascinating places waiting to be discovered. With Marco Topo, children and adults become real explorers as they solve challenges, learn about local heritage and enjoy a unique outdoor family experience. The adventure begins at the Convent of San Francisco, a historic building now home to the tourist office. Families discover the importance of the Granada Geopark and its remarkable Quaternary fossil heritage. Inside the convent, young explorers look carefully at the cloister to see what remains of its original decoration. They also learn about the Segureño lamb, a native breed with Protected Geographical Indication status, and its role in local history and cuisine. The route continues to Placeta de los Queques, where players discover an extraordinary story: Huéscar declared war on Denmark in 1809 and forgot to make peace for 172 years. A challenge helps families find out when this unusual conflict finally ended with a celebration of friendship between the two communities. On Calle Mayor stand the former homes of some of Huéscar’s most influential families. Children can search for the Peralta family coat of arms and the house built by the Duke of Alba, travelling back in time to the town of centuries past. The next stop is the imposing Church of Santa María, a large Gothic-Renaissance building. Young explorers search for a mysterious gargoyle and examine impressive Plateresque windows designed by renowned 16th-century architects. They also discover a special Gothic doorway and learn about Archbishop Saint Ildephonsus, represented in the church choir. In Plaza Mayor, new challenges await. The square contains a bandstand that was once a fountain with lion-shaped spouts. Players also inspect the Town Hall coat of arms and identify the person represented by a special figure in one of its windows. Another story introduces Huéscar’s patron saints, Alodia and Nunilón, and the way residents of a nearby village join their festival by carrying the saints in pilgrimage to their mountain chapel. The route continues to Casa Penalva, an Art Nouveau gem influenced by Catalan architecture. Families identify decorative features typical of the style, including its striking gargoyles, and discover a special Neo-Nasrid courtyard inside. Crossing the Arco del Santo Cristo, a former gate in the Nasrid wall, explorers reach a viewpoint with impressive scenery. Here they learn about Huéscar’s distinctive cave houses and the 14th-century capture of the town by the Nasrid Sultan Ismail I. At the José de Huéscar Museum, visitors enter the world of comics through the work of this Spanish artist, who donated his legacy to the town simply because his surname matched its name. His best-known work includes Les Aventuriers du Macromonde and an illustrated adaptation of The Jungle Book. Curious visitors can also discover the illustrations he produced for the famous Larousse encyclopaedia. The Keep takes the whole family back to medieval times. It is a surviving element of the former Nasrid citadel where Roman gravestones from an earlier cemetery were surprisingly reused. Its modern wooden viewpoint offers striking views over the landscape once protected by the fortress. Another charming stop is the Church of Santiago, built in the 16th century over a former mosque. Young detectives must find the Duke of Alba’s coat of arms on the façade. They also discover Los Despertadores, a unique musical tradition in which a group walks the streets before dawn on 15 August and 7 December singing verses that change according to the place they pass. The route also visits the Oscense Theatre, housed in a former 16th-century convent church. Here families discover one of Huéscar’s heritage treasures: its spectacular Mudéjar wooden ceiling. The walk ends in Rodríguez Penalva Municipal Park, Huéscar’s main green space. It is an ideal place for children to run, play and continue discovering the natural environment. Among the challenges are finding the red squirrel, identifying a fruit that resembles small apples and locating the park’s old dovecote. Discovering Huéscar as a family becomes an entertaining, educational experience full of surprises with Marco Topo. Every corner hides a fascinating story and every challenge brings you closer to the secrets of this charming town.