If there is an iconic labyrinth, it is the one that, according to classical mythology, built Daedalus to imprison the Minotaur, a half-man, half-bull monster that fed on humans. But throughout history, real and imaginary, mazes have been the protagonists of furtive encounters between lovers, novels, movies, deep philosophical and religious reflections, or simple challenges.
These exceptional places, full of crossroads, detours and blind alleys, are both challenging and fun. Feeling like Alice in Wonderland is one of those adventures that we can enjoy in different labyrinths of Spain. And no, no one will need a ball of thread like the one Ariadne gave Theseus to get out of the Cretan labyrinth after killing the Minotaur. The desire to get lost, to enjoy every turn of the road and a good sense of direction will be enough to explore these enclaves, including one that has recently been opened and which has become the largest labyrinth in Spain.
The largest labyrinth in Spain: Peñíscola (Castellón)
Enter, get lost, reach a dead end, turn back, make a choice at a crossroads, and finally reach the heart of the labyrinth, to then retrace the steps to the exit. All this does not seem like an easy task in the labyrinth of Peñíscola. And it is not, since that here not all roads lead to Rome or, rather, to the center of that convoluted place.
Perhaps even the well-known Papa Luna, that illustrious and controversial character from Peñíscola, would have liked to imprison his enemies in it, just as King Minos did with the Minotaur. But 600 years after Papa Luna, this labyrinth It is an added attraction to the many that the town already offers most representative of the Costa del Azahar.
With their 7000 square meters of extension and 3 kilometers of route, this is the largest labyrinth in Spain and the third in Europe. 4,000 specimens of Privet from Japan accompany you on these tours that represent a real challenge for those who venture into it. Some paths lead nowhere and others lead to that heart that hides a surprise in the shape of a dinosaur. But it doesn’t matter how long it takes to go through the labyrinth if at every step you can enjoy a magical place, perfect for exploring with the family.
Other curious labyrinths in Spain
There are countless labyrinths in Spain that test your ability to navigate who enters them. Most are vegetables and are part of wonderful gardens, but not all are. In some, the stone is the protagonist. And among all of them there are some curious labyrinths; so much so that sometimes they are surprising.
Breoghan Labyrinth, Vilarmaior (A Coruña)
Until the opening of Peñíscola, this was the largest labyrinth in Spain. But If this place is unique, it is not only because of its dimensions, but also because of its design and its meaning.. In Vilarmaior is the largest concentration of petroglyphs in Galicia. petroglyphs which on many occasions represent geometric shapes as intricate as those of a labyrinth.
Breoghan’s, somehow, It serves to travel to the roots of a magical land. From a bird’s eye view, its heart represents a spectacular Celtic cross shaped by hundreds of cypresses. In fact, his name is that of the Celtic king who, according to legend, founded Brigantia, today A Coruña. The same whose statue can be seen at the foot of the Tower of Hercules.
The Breoghan labyrinth also invites you to enjoy nature in its 2.3 kilometers of route. But, above all, it invites you to immerse yourself in a mystical space in which rushing has no place, in which everything invites reflection, but also entertainment. Perfect for visiting with family and furry friends, since it is a pet friendly enclosure.
Labyrinth of Blat de Moro, Castellserà (Lleida)
Corn mazes are very common in Anglo-Saxon countries, but not so much in Spain. Although it is possible to get lost in some, such as the one that for years has occupied two hectares of land at the Masía de la Esperanza in Castellserà. It is an ephemeral mazewhich is designed in late spring and dies and disappears when the cornfields are harvested at the end of September.
They are 2 kilometers of route not suitable for claustrophobic people, but for the more adventurous, who can also walk it at night. And some more curiosities. It was the first of its kind to open in Spain, every year its design changes and it has a small viewpoint to contemplate it from the heights.
Lithica stone labyrinth (Ibiza)
Pedreres de S’Hostal left for decades the stone with which many of the traditional buildings of Ibiza were built. That old quarry was abandoned and Lithica was born in its place, a place where the work of the old stonemasons is claimed, the traditional architecture of the island and an important part of its history. And all this from a didactic and artistic point of view.
In this desire to bring back to life a place condemned to disappear, different spaces were created. One of them is the Mineral Mazea labyrinth made with more than 3000 blocks of that white stone which is not only a challenge for those who venture into it, it is also a different form of artistic expression to value everything that Lithica represents.
Wolf Patton’s Labyrinth (Fuerteventura)
It is another of those curious labyrinths in which the protagonist is the stone. German artist and musician Wolf Patton wanted to represent an inner journey, the path to the human essence. That trip is reflected here in a unique route that lasts for 3 kilometers of stone walk.
Its spirituality, the silence that surrounds it, only broken by the sound of the wind, and an apparently arid landscape, but which contains enormous wealth, make it one of the most fascinating corners of Fuerteventura. A curiosity: Wolf Patton’s labyrinth It is inspired by the one that can be seen in Chartres Cathedral.
Other must-see labyrinths in Spain
It would be impossible to make a list of labyrinths in Spain without mentioning at least other little wonders that are certainly better known. They are special places because of their design, because of the place where they were built or because of their historical character. So, among those labyrinths You can not miss those that adorn the gardens of the Reales Alcázares in Seville or those of the palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso.
The one from Tentengorra in CartagenaVillapresente in Cantabria or Horta in Barcelona They are also magnificent examples of those labyrinths that man has designed to get lost, or perhaps to find himself. Everything depends on the spirit with which the traveler enters them.