WHAT TO SEE IN Cehegín

Just 3 kilometers from the urban center, Begastri is one of the most important Late Roman and Visigothic archaeological sites nationwide. Begastri reached its peak when it became an episcopal see during its Visigothic era (until the 8th century AD). It housed a large Basilica that safeguarded the Monogrammatic Cross of Cehegín, now a symbol of the city.

After it was abandoned in the 8th century, the acropolis was converted into farmland.

This historic quarter is considered one of the most beautiful in the region. Declared a Historic-Artistic Site in 1982, its streets and alleyways offer abundant examples of traditional architecture from the 12th to the 19th centuries. It’s a museum in its own right, with manor houses, palaces, churches, viewpoints, and more than 116 coats of arms.

Part of Levantine rock art, these figures from the Chalcolithic period were drawn in the inner cavities of three caves on Peña Rubia mountain: Cueva de las Palomas, Las Conchas, and Cueva del Humo. They were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998.

The Castle, a symbol of Cehegín’s origins, consisted of a large Keep, cellars, granaries, a chapel, and other dependencies. This fortress was a collection and administration center for the Order of Santiago. Scattered remains of the walls can still be seen, such as a section of the Muslim-era wall and the presence of an Almohad gate of the alcazaba.

Construction began in 1890 and it was inaugurated on September 14, 1901 with a charity bullfight. Since 1936 it has belonged to the Town Hall, and it stands out for an unusual feature: you access the stands at street level, without stairs, thanks to the excavation carried out in the hillside where it sits. Throughout its history it has welcomed figures such as El Gallo and Juan Belmonte, and it has also hosted bullfighters’ “alternatives” such as Guerrita (1975), El Rubio (2003), and Alejandro Talavante (2006).

The arcades of Plaza del Castillo date back to 1725. Their original function was to house private boxes for wealthy individuals to comfortably watch spectacles, such as bullfights or ceremonies, held in the square. In the 19th century, they were covered with walls, transforming into rooms dedicated to selling meat and fish.

Utilizing the old railway line between Murcia and Caravaca de la Cruz, whose construction began in 1925 and concluded in 1931, the Vía Verde (Greenway) stretches for nearly 78 km, passing through lush orchards, pine forests, and the most beautiful spots. Along its route, hostels are set up in old train stations. This route constitutes the final stretch of the Camino de Levante, the pilgrimage route to the Holy City of Caravaca de la Cruz.

One of the standout manor houses in the Old Town. It is an 18th-century Rococo building and currently serves as the Town Hall.

Located on Calle Mayor, it is one of the region’s most iconic and interesting private buildings. In its basement is the Ethnographic Museum, which displays uniforms from the Order of Santiago and a sample of the craftsmanship of espadrille makers.

This complex, declared a National Monument, is one of the few surviving examples of the most authentic Murcian Baroque. Built between the 16th and 18th centuries on the site of a former 15th-century hermitage, it has safeguarded María Santísima de las Maravillas, the city’s patron saint, since 1725.

Inside, the Baroque cloister stands out as the true heart of the complex, around which the rest of the convent buildings are arranged. And as a devotional jewel, the image of the patron saint is a delicate wooden carving linked to the Italian Baroque school.

Located on the highest hill in the historic quarter, it was declared a National Monument in 1980. Its construction is believed to date back to the late 15th or early 16th century, and it stands out for its clear Mudéjar influence. Its most spectacular treasure is the polychrome Mudéjar coffered ceiling, crowned by an impressive muqarnas pinecone in the presbytery.

A Renaissance-style building, considered the prototype of a Santiagist church in the Kingdom of Murcia. La Magdalena served as the town’s main parish during the influence of the Order of Santiago (14th–19th centuries). It was remodelled and expanded in the second half of the 16th century.

One of the most beautiful and delicate examples of religious architecture in Cehegín. It was declared a Historic-Artistic Monument in 1982. It is a Renaissance church with three naves built in 1595 by the Brotherhood of the Virgen de Los Dolores, one of the oldest penitential brotherhoods in the Region.

Built in the 15th century, the hermitage was destroyed by the French army during the Peninsular War. Despite being in ruins, it remains a highly attractive tourist spot and an unrivalled viewpoint over the old town. It is the starting point of the San Sebastián pilgrimage.

The museum’s rooms are spread across three buildings, two of them historic: the Casa del Concejo and the Palacio de los Fajardo. The museum has 12 exhibition rooms that trace history from the Neolithic to the Modern Age, with an emphasis on Chalcolithic sites and Begastri. Admission is currently free.

In the 17th-century cellars of the Palacio de la Tercia, the Cehegín Wine School awakens aromas of centuries-old vineyards from the Argos Valley.
Its underground jars, visible beneath a glass walkway, guard the legacy of wines that brought together noblemen and laborers at shared tables.
Here, enology and gastronomy courses are interwoven with tastings that pair Bullas wine with the sweetness of handcrafted alfajores.
When visiting its rooms, travelers savor the history of a town that celebrates the harvest with raised glasses and promises of fertile land.

They are held every year in the first weeks of September. The patron saint, María Santísima de las Maravillas, is cared for by the Franciscan friars in her sanctuary until the celebrations begin.

It is celebrated with great religious devotion. Its importance comes from the splendour of its processions, the spectacular setting of its old quarter, the age of its brotherhoods (some more than 400 years old), and the beauty of its religious images.

The Cehegín Carnivals fill the municipality with color, music, and community participation, becoming one of the most lively celebrations of the year. For several days, the streets are transformed with parades of troupes, creative costumes, and a festive atmosphere that brings together families, young people, and visitors.

They are held in May and include making traditional migas at the fairgrounds on Saturday night. On Sunday there is a pilgrimage and a parade of decorated floats, where participants dressed in traditional huertano attire hand out the traditional afternoon snack.

A night-time pilgrimage is held from the Ruins of the Hermitage of San Sebastián to Plaza del Castillo, where torches are carried to light the great bonfire in honour of the saint.