Source of the Jabalón River

The source of the Jabalón River is one of the most significant natural spaces in Montiel and a key place to understand the relationship between water, landscape and history in this part of the region.

Very close to the town center, this site marks the beginning of one of the most important waterways in the region, a river that for centuries shaped settlements, roads, and much of the organization of the historical landscape. A visit here allows one to appreciate, from its very origin, the importance of water as an essential resource in an environment where springs, seepages, and small rivers influenced the lives of human communities.

Near Montiel, the Jabalón receives the waters of the Segurilla and, further on, the Oregon, beginning a journey that will make it one of the main hydrographic references of the territory.

The area surrounding the river's source is particularly fertile, with orchards and cultivated fields that help explain both the choice of location for La Estrella Castle and the development of the medieval settlement at its base. Added to this is the presence of several mills along the riverbed, evidence of the historical use of the water and the economic importance of water in this region.

Approaching the source of the Jabalón River allows one to go beyond a simple scenic visit. It offers a way to understand how water helped shape the landscape, sustain agricultural areas, and establish roads, fords, and settlements since medieval times. The area thus retains remarkable environmental and cultural value, because it brings together the interpretation of the terrain, the memory of historical settlement, and the constant presence of one of the rivers that best explains the configuration of the Campo de Montiel region.