Number and Names of travellers:
2 adults and 1 small child (Anni, Thommy and Rosie)
Vehicle type:
Carado T448
Travel period:
29 days in Ocober/November 2021
Kilometres travelled:
5,726 km
Starting point:
Leutkirch im Allgäu
Stopovers:
Barcelona, Montserrat Monastery, Ebro Delta, Peñíscola, Albarracín, Toledo, Córdoba, Seville, Bardenas Reales
End point:
Sevilla (Spain)
When we think of different countries, we often have immediate ideas and images in our minds. Our image of Spain was quite clichéd when we think about it in retrospect. If we had thought of Spain months ago, the typical image of sun, beach and sea would have immediately appeared in our inner eye. Endless coastal roads, huge palm trees, well-kept beach promenades and, of course: sangria from buckets would indeed not have been missing.
But Spain has so much more to offer. These clichés definitely do not do the country justice. We were particularly taken with the Spanish interior: gigantic canyon landscapes, medieval villages and towering rock faces that stretch several hundred kilometers through the country. We are still overwhelmed by the diversity we were able to marvel at there.
In fact, we have felt the same way about so many other countries. Spontaneity is our key: from a clichéd preconception or an idea of what some places might be like, insanely beautiful impressions emerge that we hope we will never forget. And that's what we love so much about travelling. When the dark spots on our very personal map become vivid colourful pictures - packed with the most beautiful experiences that we will be happy to tell our grandchildren about one day.
One thing is certain: our hearts have definitely been beating for Spain since this trip. Maybe it's because we got completely involved with the country. Or maybe because Spain is just great. Or maybe it was the sun that gently tickled us awake every day through the window above the bed of our Carado T448.
No matter what it was in the end: Spain gets full marks from us as a travel destination!
We have recorded our Top 5 places in Spain:
If you are looking for pure nature, you have come to the right place. With an area of around 320 square kilometers, the Ebro Delta is the largest wetland in Catalonia and the second largest in the entire Mediterranean region after the Nile Delta in Egypt. In addition to the cultivation of fruit, vegetables and rice, about 400 different bird species live in the shallow and nutrient-rich river arms. The many dunes and sandbanks harmoniously round off the natural paradise.
The narrow roads of the alluvial area give you the feeling of crossing a completely foreign country. Hiking, cycling and resting are, of course, only allowed on designated routes and places. During the day, we parked our T448 directly on the beach for two days in a row and could practically jump into the sea from the camper. Rosie especially liked the large sandbox including the "swimming pool" in front of our door.
The breathtaking town of Peñíscola was voted one of the most beautiful villages in Spain - and absolutely deservedly. Known as the "city in the sea", it enchants its visitors at first sight. The makers of the series "Game of Thrones" also noticed this. The mighty Templar castle with its famous white houses is enthroned high up on a rocky outcrop. The crystal-clear water picturesquely surrounds the walled city. It resembles Greek islands like Santorini and Mykonos.
The roots of Peñíscola go back to 1000 BC. The historic center is unique: half-paved streets leading up to the impressive castle on the highest part of the hill, numerous handicraft and fashion shops, souvenir shops as well as small bars and restaurants with terraces and the incredible view of the Mediterranean Sea. Peñíscola - a real highlight.
A place that is most likely rarely included as a program item on a travel agenda, but which in our opinion should definitely be added. A medieval village that couldn't be more magical. By chance, we discovered a photo on Instagram and simply had to see this gem with our own eyes. And it really is true: it seems as if time has simply stood still in this village located in the region of Teruel.
Beautiful winding, narrow streets, a huge city wall that stretches over an entire ridge. Houses made of half-timbering, clay and stone, which give the town its unmistakable flair with their reddish exterior plaster. It is not without reason that Albarracín has been part of Spain's historical heritage since 1961. We have rarely seen such a photogenic place as this. This probably explains the thousands of photos on our memory card ...
Once it was clear that we were going through the center of Spain, there was no stopping Tommy. The former capital had been on his personal bucket list for a long time. There is hardly any other big city in Spain that captivated us so much right away. Just in time for sunset, we parked our motorhome in one of the many bays at the "Mirador del Valle" and watched from there as minute by minute the sun disappeared behind the houses and transformed the sky into a delightful play of colours.
If, like us, you only want to visit Toledo as a stopover, we can warmly recommend this viewpoint. Not only is the evening atmosphere magnificent, but the panorama of Toledo and the mighty Tagus River, which runs halfway around the city in a serpentine shape, is also breathtaking. Toledo is more closely linked to Spanish history than almost any other place in the country. Cathedrals, portals and entire streets from the Middle Ages make up the historic city center. No wonder, then, that Toledo's impressive old town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.
On our way home, we discovered this beautiful spot purely by chance. Until late in the evening, Tommy drove somewhat disoriented through the darkness. Only the next morning did we realise that the semi-desert Bardenas Reales stretches not thirty kilometers from us. We could not miss this sight.
What Mother Nature has created here in the south-east of the Spanish region of Navarra can hardly be put into words. Through water, wind and air, truly bizarre towers and shapes have formed from clay, stone, lime and many other sediments over the course of time. The most famous formation is the monolith "Castil de Tierra". This wild natural landscape is a UNESCO biosphere reserve and is perfect for hiking, cycling and marvelling.
Kilometer by kilometer, we get closer and closer to winter. We leave the toll-free country road in France, turn onto the hectic motorway in Germany. We are back. Our one-month camping adventure is actually over again. Who would have thought that 29 days could fly by so quickly? We exchanged our flat for a mobile home for a whole four weeks.
We took home not only our belongings, beautiful porcelain dishes from a Portuguese pottery, the most beautiful memories and great pictures for our family photo album - but also a very important realisation: Europe has so many incredible treasures that you don't necessarily always have on your radar. Sometimes you have to let yourself drift to find the truly most beautiful spots in the world.
Ich bin ein Tooltip.