Museo del Viaje a la Alcarria

About the museum

The museum occupies the keep (torre del homenaje) of Torija castle, which is owned by the Diputación Provincial de Guadalajara. It opened on 10 May 1995 to mark the 50th anniversary of the journey Camilo José Cela made through the Alcarria, which gave rise to his book “Viaje a la Alcarria”, published in 1948. Its promoters present it as the only museum in the world dedicated to a single book.

The exhibition is spread over three floors and includes personal objects connected with the journey, a facsimile of the writer’s notebook, editions of the work in several languages, photographs of the period, and tools, school exercise books, coins and banknotes from the post-war years, which help to evoke the atmosphere Cela described.

The castle is a medieval fortress that was held by the Templars and later by the Mendoza family. During the War of Independence, Juan Martín “El Empecinado” ordered it blown up so that French troops could not use it, and it remained in ruins until its reconstruction in 1962. In the castle’s parade ground (patio de armas) stands the Centro de Interpretación Turística de la Provincia de Guadalajara (CITUG), a three-floor centre dedicated to the natural, historical and ethnographic heritage of the province, which is visited together with the museum.

Highlights

• Museum in the keep of a medieval castle
• The only museum in the world dedicated to a single book
• Facsimile of Cela’s notebook and editions in several languages
• Photographs and objects from the post-war period
• Tourist Interpretation Centre of the Province of Guadalajara in the parade ground

Permanent exhibitions

• Museo del Viaje a la Alcarria – Three-floor exhibition on Camilo José Cela’s 1946 journey, with personal objects, editions of the book, photographs and objects of the period.
• Centro de Interpretación Turística de la Provincia de Guadalajara (CITUG) – Three-floor centre in the parade ground on the natural, historic-artistic and ethnographic heritage of the province, with crafts, festivities and gastronomy.

Founded

1995

Operated by

Diputación Provincial de Guadalajara

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission and guided tour are free for individuals and groups, with compulsory booking on the Provincial Council’s tourism website (turismoenguadalajara.es).

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The Tourist Interpretation Centre has toilets, a lift and a ramp connecting the ground, first and second floors. The official listing does not give details of the accessibility of the castle or the keep.

Kids & families

Getting there & parking

From Madrid, take the A-2 towards Zaragoza to exit 73, then the CM-2011 towards Torija-Brihuega and the GU-907 to Torija.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit