Las Fuentes del Marques and the Torreón de los Templarios

The Centro de Interpretacion (Nature Centre), Las Fuentes del Marques.

This is an attractive natural park area, about 2km from the centre of Caravaca itself and is the ideal place to escape the milling crowds, go for a quiet, tranquil pic-nic and enjoy the great outdoors.

It is built around El Torreón de los Templarios, a name evoking the age of the Knights Templar, although the building that we see today was actually part of a residential complex, belonging to the estates of the noble family, The Marquises de Uribe.

The name is believed to have come from the existence of a structure in this same location back in the 13th century, when the lands were controlled by the Knights Templar. This is the source of natural springs, and clear water flows from the ground to fill the lakes which make this place such an attractive picnic location, but in those days water was life, and control of water was strictly regulated by those in power, so the Templars would have jealously guarded the source of the water with some sort of fortified structure, the building we see today replacing it in the 16th century.

The building here now was part of a residential complex and was given its existing name at some point in the 19th century.

Today visitors can enjoy the wildlife interpretation centre at the cost of 3 euros for adults, or 2 euros for children and retirees, but most come here to walk around the lakes, enjoy the woods and trees and perhaps take a meal in one of the restaurants located by the Fuentes.

The interpretation centre is open during the 2017 Holy Year seven days a a week from 11:00 to 13:30.

Las Fuentes is accessed from the Avenida de los Andenes, which heads off to Moratalla, and is signposted from there, the road leading off down a country track to ample car parking.

See below for map: Fuentes del Marques

There are two restaurants , both offering á la carte, although they will provide a Menú del Día if asked.

Click for more information about the Caravaca de la Cruz municipality