Only 2 km from Beteta, the village of El Tobar is located next to the Masegar stream, downstream of the lagoons that bear the same name. Surrounded by a natural landscape of extraordinary beauty, El Tobar is an essential stop for the traveler and an ideal place to rest.
El Tobar was a town that belonged to the lordship of Beteta, known as “Beteta y sus siete aldeas”, together with six other towns: Santa María del Val, Lagunaseca, Masegosa, Cueva del Hierro, Valtablado and Valsalobre. It was segregated as an independent municipality along with the rest of the villages in 1850, until 1973, when it was incorporated as a district of Beteta.
Among the places to visit are the Arca fountain and the washhouse, which was once the epicenter of the town’s social life. This laundry room offers a window to the past, where women gathered to wash clothes and share stories.
The Parish Church of San Ginés, from the 16th century, stands as a symbol of the religious and architectural legacy of El Tobar. It is a small temple of great beauty, built on a single nave divided into three sections by transverse arches and pilasters with a cruciform base that support the former arches. Thanks to recent restorations, remains of frescoes can be seen.
Finally, the ethnographic museum, opened in 1986 on the initiative of an association of the municipality, is a must-see. This museum, located in the old municipal oven, houses a collection of objects and tools that illustrate the rural life of yesteryear. From farming tools to traditional clothing, each piece tells a story of work, customs and traditions that have shaped the identity of El Tobar.
