FREEONTOUR

21. Jan. 2025 - 21. Jan. 2025

Echterdingen

Departure from the CMT

Schenker Allee Ost, Echterdingen, Landkreis Esslingen, Baden-Württemberg, Deutschland

48° 41' 47" N 9° 11' 15.3" E

48.6963870 9.1875928

21. Jan. 2025 - 22. Jan. 2025

Camping Les Grands Ansanges

We decided to check the time difference between toll and toll-free routes at each stage. It should be 20 minutes, so toll-free. But first we had to refill the gas bottle before we set off in brilliant sunshine through the Black Forest and, from the Rhine Valley onwards, in thick fog to our first overnight spot, a Camping-Car Park site.

Rue de l'Église, 25350, Mandeure, France

47° 27' 20.4" N 6° 48' 17.9" E

47.4556700 6.8049800

21. Jan. 2025 - 22. Jan. 2025

Villefranche-sur-Saône

Our journey from the Doubs region to the Jura, to Villefranche sur Saône, the capital of Beaujolais. The route is short, but the journey through the villages and the small country roads with their countless roundabouts takes time. But we saved a lot on tolls. Now we are standing with a view of the Saône and enjoying the evening (unfortunately without a glass of Beaujolais).

Route de Riottier, Villefranche-sur-Saône, Rhône, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpen, Frankreich

45° 58' 19.5" N 4° 45' 7.2" E

45.9720897 4.7520076

23. Jan. 2025 - 25. Jan. 2025

Remoulins

We had barely been driving for two days when we changed our plans for the first time. We actually wanted to go to La Carnourgue as a stopover on the way to Spain, but we decided to drive a little further and look at the Pont du Gard. Again we started off toll-free, but as soon as we passed through Lyon we got lost and spent half an hour winding through Lyon until we finally got on the A7 towards Marseille. As we continued on and after a traffic jam due to a serious accident, we realized somewhere in the Jura mountains that we would not be in Remoulins until early evening. So we quickly reprogrammed the sat nav and took the toll motorway. This saved us over two hours. Tomorrow we will look at the Pont du Gard.

Avenue du Pont du Gard, Remoulins, Remoulins, Département Gard, Frankreich

43° 56' 16.9" N 4° 33' 18.8" E

43.9380273 4.5552124

Pont du Gard

Route du Pont du Gard 400, Vers-Pont-du-Gard, Gard, Okzitanien, Frankreich

43° 56' 49.5" N 4° 32' 8.2" E

43.9470703 4.5356005

25. Jan. 2025 - 26. Jan. 2025

Le Barcarès

We made another stopover in France because the journey to our next destination in Spain was too far. Now, like last year, we are standing at the harbor with a view of the water. And you can see the Pyrenees in the background.

Quai Alain Colas, Le Barcarès, Ostpyrenäen, Okzitanien, Frankreich

42° 48' 4.6" N 3° 1' 56.9" E

42.8012699 3.0324840

26. Jan. 2025 - 27. Jan. 2025

Montserrat

We have finally arrived in Spain and at our first destination, Montserrat. Here at the train station you can park for one night for free in the bus parking lot if you want to visit the monastery. We will tackle that tomorrow.

Camí del Cementiri, Montserrat, Bages, Catalonia, Spain

41° 36' 55.1" N 1° 50' 35.8" E

41.6153156 1.8432783

26. Jan. 2025 - 26. Jan. 2025

Monistrol de Montserrat

Today we took the cog railway up to the monastery. It was a bit of a shame that they sold us a combined ticket without pointing out that most of the entrance tickets can only be bought through the monastery itself, and so we paid a bit more than we should have. The monastery complex is impressive when you see it built right up to the edge of the cliff in this rugged mountain landscape. We visited the museum, the audio-visual show, the basilica and the Madonna, which the Catalans call "The Brown One" because of its colour. Touching it, which is possible through a small window in the glass display case, is said to bring good luck. We then walked another 20 minutes to the San Miguel cross, from which you have a breathtaking view of the monastery, the rocky landscape and far across the valley.

Carretera de Montserrat, Monistrol de Montserrat, Provinz Barcelona, Spanien

41° 35' 34.8" N 1° 50' 13.9" E

41.5929890 1.8372023

27. Jan. 2025 - 29. Jan. 2025

Vimbodí i Poblet

We left Montserrat behind us and drove on to Poblet to see the next monastery, the Monasterio de Poblet, which is said to be one of the most beautiful, if not the most beautiful, in Spain. We are parked with another motorhome in the visitor parking lot, where you can also spend the night. Tomorrow we will go to the monastery.

T-700, Vimbodí i Poblet, Conca de Barberà, Katalonien, Spanien

41° 22' 47.8" N 1° 4' 46.9" E

41.3799424 1.0796848

28. Jan. 2025 - 28. Jan. 2025

Monasteiro di Poblet

We visited the monastery today. We paid seven euros per person, including the senior discount. You can download a free audio guide to your phone using a QR code. We opted for the short tour, which nevertheless takes you through all accessible rooms, as the monastery still houses Cistercians. The monastery is also the burial place for the kings of Aragon, although the sarcophagi are set up - or rather attached - in a somewhat unusual way. In addition to the royal tombs and the basilica, the cloister with the gardens and of course the defensive wall with the mighty portal are particularly worth seeing. The refectory and the chapter house can only be viewed through the panes of the doors, as the monastery is, as mentioned, still in use.

T-700, Vimbodí i Poblet, Conca de Barberà, Catalonia, Spain

41° 22' 48.6" N 1° 4' 50.7" E

41.3801690 1.0807616

29. Jan. 2025 - 30. Jan. 2025

La Granja D'Escarp

We actually wanted to drive to Poblet in Zaragoza. But the last four days without any sun or electricity have pretty much drained our batteries. So we looked for a place to park with electricity on the way and found one here. Everything is there and the place is free. And right next to it there is a lost place, the remains of an old cement factory.

Carrer del Poliesportiu, La Granja d'Escarp, Lleida, Spain

41° 24' 58" N 0° 20' 58.3" E

41.4161249 0.3495194

Saragossa

We arrived in Zaragoza, or Saragossa. We managed to get a spot on the parking lot by the university. Right in front of the square is a stop for the only tram line in Zaragoza, but it takes you right into the middle of the city. And that costs 1.65 per person, and the ticket is valid for one hour on the bus and train. So it's no wonder that the tram is full. We discovered that almost everything is closed for a few hours at lunchtime, so our city tour was limited to a few places, such as the Mercado Central, the Roman theater (all from the outside only). To compensate, we found a pretty old patisserie on Calle de Don Jaime I and made our day a little sweeter. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

Calle Poeta Luciano Gracia, Saragossa, Saragossa, Spanien

41° 40' 58.8" N 0° 53' 25.1" W

41.6830000 -0.8903000

30. Jan. 2025 - 30. Jan. 2025

Saragossa

Today the sun is shining, but the wind is still strong and icy. But we set off. An English couple who had just left gave us a rechargeable tram card that even had a little credit left. And with this card, a single journey actually only costs 45 cents per person. It really is possible! We take the tram to Plaza del Pilar, the central square where, in addition to the tourist information office, the church with the leaning tower (so you can find them not only in Pisa), a cathedral, the town hall and another museum, there is also the Basilica del Pilar, one of the main sights. In addition to the paintings by Goya, the alabaster altar is particularly impressive.

We crossed the Puente de Piedra to the other side of the Ebro, from where we have a beautiful view of the basilica. The next attraction is the Palacio de la Aljaferia, built by the Moors in the 11th century as a pleasure palace and fortress and later the seat of the kings of Aragon. Today the Aragonese parliament is based there. The structural changes of the last few centuries were fortunately reversed in the 1980s and today the palace is a world cultural heritage site. It deserves the title.

Plaza de Nuestra Señora del Pilar, Saragossa, Saragossa, Spanien

41° 39' 25.4" N 0° 52' 49.9" W

41.6570433 -0.8805198

01. Feb. 2025 - 02. Feb. 2025

Calamocha

On our way to Albarrazin we make a short stop here to charge our auxiliary batteries, as they were not fully charged during the short trips of the last few days. Our solar modules are not really helping either.

N-234 km 194, Calamocha, Provinz Teruel, Spanien

40° 56' 23.2" N 1° 17' 40.9" W

40.9397916 -1.2946964

01. Feb. 2025 - 05. Feb. 2025

Albarracin

We continued on to Albarracin. As soon as we reached the Río Guadalaviar, the journey went through the breathtaking landscape of the Sierra Albarracin with its rugged rock faces, where we discovered not only a ruined castle but also the remains of a former Roman aqueduct. Albarracin was conquered by the Moors in the 9th century and became an independent Taifa kingdom under the Banu Razin dynasty, after whom the town is named (Al-Banu-Razin). Today the town is practically an open-air museum with narrow streets, reddish houses, a well-preserved wall from the Islamic period, the Moorish castle from the 10th century, of which only ruins remain, and much more. The parking space where we are standing is still relatively new.

Camino del Cid, Albarracín, Sierra de Albarracín, Aragon, Spain

40° 24' 32.3" N 1° 25' 40.7" W

40.4089761 -1.4279834

Albarracín

We had a look around this fascinating place. Unfortunately, all museums, churches, etc. are closed at this time (Jan./Feb.). But there is still plenty to discover.

Sierra de Albarracín, Aragonien, Spanien

40° 24' 26.2" N 1° 26' 39.4" W

40.4072825 -1.4442792

05. Feb. 2025 - 05. Feb. 2025

El Navazo

In the rocky landscapes around Albarrazin there are a number of places with petroglyphs. We visited the one at El Navazo. From a large car park (fees apply) there is a circular walk through this area with fascinating rock formations in which

you can see a number of these petroglyphs. However, since they are more or less exposed to the weather, they have faded somewhat after more than 6,000 years but, and this is also fascinating, they are still recognizable.

Sierra de Albarracín, Aragonien, Spanien

40° 20' 50" N 1° 40' 29.1" W

40.3472201 -1.6747364

04. Feb. 2025 - 05. Feb. 2025

Teruel

We have arrived in Teruel and are parked at the municipal parking lot. There is space for 30 mobile homes on this, in our opinion, beautifully laid out site, which is completely free; overnight accommodation as well as water and waste disposal are also free. There is no electricity. Tomorrow we will visit the city of the Mudéjar towers.

Avenida de Sagunto, Teruel, Comunidad de Teruel, Aragonien, Spanien

40° 19' 58.3" N 1° 5' 8" W

40.3328696 -1.0855609

Teruel

Teruel is known for its relatively well-preserved Mudèjar architecture. The Mudèjar style is named after its creators, the Mudèjar. The term comes from the Arabic mudajjan, which means "subject to tolerance" and was used for the Muslims who continued to live in Spain and Portugal after the Reconquista, the Christian reconquest. We walked into the city to see the most important buildings. It took us 35 minutes to walk from the parking spot until we reached the Iglésia San Pedro, where our tour began. The tower of San Pedro (13th century) is considered one of the oldest and most typical Mudèjar towers in Teruel. The church itself dates from the 15th century and is not only spectacular in itself but also houses the mausoleum of the lovers. These are Isabel de Segura and Juan Diego de Marcilla, who were madly in love with each other. Isabel's father prevented the two from marrying, and their love ended tragically with their deaths. Since the 13th century, both have been honored with a festival on the third Friday in February. We continue to the Plaza del Torico, a central square in Teruel. The central point and symbol of the city is the little bull (Torico), a bull statue that is only 45 cm high. Among other things, it commemorates the legend of Teruel's founding. In addition to the cathedral with its 13th century Mudèjar tower and impressive wooden ceiling, we also visit the Tower of San Salvador, which is considered the most magnificent of the Mudèjar towers and which you can climb, and the Tower of San Martin. The final part of the tour is the staircase gallery from the 1920s in the Neo-Mudèjar style with a relief of the lovers.

Aragonien, Spanien

40° 36' 1.9" N 0° 55' 22.5" W

40.6005259 -0.9229282

06. Feb. 2025 - 07. Feb. 2025

Caudiel

We left Teruel; the parking space was nicely laid out and there was a supermarket "on the doorstep", but we weren't so keen on the refrigerated trucks and the reversing signals. One night was a bit of a problem, but we wanted to move on anyway... We are now at a new place in this small town and there is now electricity here too.

Avenida de la Estación, Caudiel, Valencianische Gemeinschaft, Spanien

39° 56' 50.8" N 0° 34' 19.1" W

39.9474376 -0.5719813

Tabernas

We drove from Calar Alto down into the only desert in Europe, Tabernas. First of all, to the Little Texas parking spot. The name comes from the fact that a lot of things here in Tabernas revolve around the Wild West, as many Hollywood classics were filmed here in the desert, such as Once Upon a Time in the West and Lawrence of Arabia, to name just a few.

A-1100, Tabernas, Andalusien, Spanien

37° 5' 42.7" N 2° 17' 17.1" W

37.0951877 -2.2880821

Fort Bravo

We drove to Fort Bravo. A western town that used to be a film set for many big westerns, but is still used for various shots today. Since these are sets, most of the houses are of course completely empty and not all are kept in good condition, like the buildings in the central square. Shows take place here, as well as in the saloon; typical saloon scenes and a bank robbery. Everything is a bit funny but in Spanish (of course), so we could only get the funny parts from the plot. Nevertheless, we liked it a lot.

Texas Hollywood / Fort Bravo, Tabernas, Almería, Andalusien, Spanien

37° 2' 52.9" N 2° 25' 15.5" W

37.0480272 -2.4209645

Oasys MiniHollywood

We spent a free but not entirely quiet night in the hiking car park in front of the Oasys Mini Hollywood (37.0208 -2.4352) and from here we started a short hike through the desert. The path leads down into a rambla, which are riverbeds and/or flood channels for heavy rainfall. A lot of filming was done here too and it is not difficult to imagine a chief riding around the next bend with his two aides and warriors with bows and arrows standing on the mountain ridges all around. Before we walk back up the mountains we visit the oasis from Lawrence of Arabia, because that was also filmed here.

Carretera Nacional N−340a, Tabernas, Almería, Andalusien, Spanien

37° 1' 4.6" N 2° 25' 48.4" W

37.0179583 -2.4301126

Tabernas

After our hike, we visited an oil mill and did some shopping in Tabernas before heading to our next overnight spot, which was much quieter than the last one. Again, it had a great view.

N-340A, Tabernas, Andalusien, Spanien

37° 4' 15.8" N 2° 21' 54.7" W

37.0710616 -2.3652057

Tabernas

We spend the night here on a large site behind a gas station; in one part there are trucks every now and then, but in the larger part there are mobile homes with a wonderful view of the desert landscape. A good opportunity for a few last pictures, also from the air...

Andalusien, Spanien

37° 1' 0.2" N 2° 26' 50.2" W

37.0167292 -2.4472825

Roquetas de Mar

We've arrived at the Roquetas Camper Park, where we'll be staying for the next four weeks. Unfortunately, we're not having much luck with the weather. Since our arrival, it's deteriorated significantly across most of Spain. A freezing wind, almost constantly at gale force, rain, and the occasional glimpse of sunshine. Not ideal conditions for doing anything, except for the occasional taxi to the hairdresser or the shopping center. At least it hasn't hit us as hard as other places. But we're making the best of it, taking advantage of every break in the rain for walks.

Calle Martinica 9, Roquetas de Mar, Andalusien, Spanien

36° 44' 41.9" N 2° 37' 4.4" W

36.7449820 -2.6178805

Roquetas de Mar

We took advantage of the little time we had left here in Roquetas and the increasingly better weather to see at least a few things. The Castillo Santa Ana, the bullring (we happened upon a biker rally during our visit), and even a bike ride through the Punta Entinas-Sabinar National Park, where many flamingos spend the summer. And, of course, we went to the market again.

Andalusien, Spanien

36° 44' 39.9" N 2° 37' 4.4" W

36.7444167 -2.6178934

Aguadulce

Aguadulce – we've heard a lot about this town, or rather, a district of Roquetas. We wanted to see it for ourselves. So, we hopped on our bikes and cycled the 10 km from the campsite to Aguadulce. The promenade is beautiful, but the harbor with its boats, restaurants, cafés, and clubs is the highlight.

Almería, Andalusien, Spanien

36° 48' 44.7" N 2° 34' 15.5" W

36.8124067 -2.5709688

Almería

Our time in Roquestas de Mar is over. We say goodbye to our friends and continue on, driving 30 km to start with. We actually wanted to explore Almeria during our stay in Roquetas, but the weather... We're parked in a large parking lot, from which we can quickly reach the city by bike.

Avenida del Mediterráneo, Almería, Andalusien, Spanien

36° 49' 46.4" N 2° 26' 41.1" W

36.8295515 -2.4447447

Kathedrale

We cycle along the well-maintained bike paths along the beach to Almería's old town. Our first stop is the cathedral. We leave our bikes here and visit the other sights on foot. The cathedral is absolutely worth seeing and costs €10 per person for a combined ticket with the monastery, which is located nearby and also worth a visit.

Plaza de la Catedral, Almería, Andalusien, Spanien

36° 50' 19" N 2° 28' 1.8" W

36.8386227 -2.4671533

Tapas Bar Casa Puga

This tapas bar was a hidden gem. It's been around since 1870 and offers fresh tapas and other dishes in a typically rustic setting. As in classic tapas bars, you'll usually stand and enjoy the tapas that comes free with your drink.

Calle Jovellanos 10, Almería, Andalusien, Spanien

36° 50' 26.1" N 2° 27' 59.4" W

36.8405850 -2.4664881

Alcazaba de Almeria

The Alcazaba is the largest Moorish fortress in Spain and absolutely worth seeing, although not as richly decorated as the fortress in Zaragoza or even the Alhambra in Granada. Admission is free for EU citizens. It's worth a while to wander around this vast complex. And from the towers, you have a fantastic view of the city and harbor.

Andalusien, Spanien

36° 50' 24.3" N 2° 28' 15.1" W

36.8400757 -2.4708490

Mercado Central

As usual, we pay a quick visit to the Mercado Central to see what's on offer. Unfortunately, most of the food stalls are closed, so we don't stay long.

Calle Circunvalación Ulpiano Díaz 14, Almería, Andalusien, Spanien

36° 50' 25.3" N 2° 27' 46.2" W

36.8403569 -2.4628317

Rambla de Belén

Even though the often praised shops, cafés and restaurants did not live up to our expectations, Almeria's promenade is worth a visit.

Avenida Federico García Lorca, Almería, Andalusien, Spanien

36° 50' 13.8" N 2° 27' 40" W

36.8371731 -2.4611234

Cargadero de Cables Inglés

The Cargadero de Cables Inglés (Inglés Cable Dock) is an ore loading station built by an English mining company in the early 20th century, now an industrial monument. If you walk to the end, you'll have a beautiful view of the harbor.

Carretera de Ronda, Almería, Andalusien, Spanien

36° 50' 1.2" N 2° 27' 33.1" W

36.8336682 -2.4591860

Beas de Granada

We're spending the weekend here before continuing on to Granada. We use the time to do a bit of hiking. There are several trails here; you can get a map at the campsite. Even though the paths aren't always easy (they're often steep uphill and occasionally require a bit of scrambling), you'll be rewarded with impressive views.

The SP offers water and sewage disposal, electricity, toilet and shower as well as a washing machine and dryer.

37° 13' 14.4" N 3° 28' 54.9" W

37.2206728 -3.4819030

La Linea

We had actually planned to visit Granada and the Alhambra, but couldn't book tickets in advance. We tried it on a whim, but definitely couldn't get tickets. So we'll have to wait and try again the next day – parking is too expensive. We've decided to drive to Gibraltar. In La Linea, just before the border, we're standing in the marina with a great view of the boats and the Rock of Gibraltar behind us. Tomorrow we'll head to the peninsula; it's a 10-minute walk to the border, and another 10 minutes to the city.

Avenida de los Barcos, La Línea de la Concepción, Campo de Gibraltar, Andalusia, Spain

36° 9' 25.2" N 5° 21' 21.5" W

36.1569900 -5.3559625

Gibraltar

We're in Gibraltar today. From the parking spot, it's a ten-minute walk to passport and customs control (on the British side, we were greeted in German), and then another ten minutes into the city, which crosses the airport runway. The Main Street, the Old Town, and the Gibraltar Nature Reserve, or the Rock of Gibraltar, are all interesting places to visit, as almost all of the sights are located. However, the €70 entrance fee was a bit too much for a Moorish fortress, a stalactite cave, casemates, and a suspension bridge. Instead, we go out for a classic British meal – fish and chips. However, we can't recommend the fish and chips shops on Grand Casemates Square; at least we were very disappointed by the "ultimate" recommendation, the Rock Fish and Chips. Everything was pretty tasteless and, as we later discovered, too expensive.

Instead, head through C. Real/Main Street toward South Gate. At Convent Place, you'll find a quaint little pub, "The Angry Friar." The fish and chips here are not only cheaper but also far better. They also serve other dishes and even good draft beer.

On the way back the traffic lights were red because a plane was taking off.

36° 7' 42.9" N 5° 20' 50.9" W

36.1285933 -5.3474761

Lo Caños de Meca

We actually wanted to go to Tarifa. But we needed electricity, and it was supposed to rain in Tarifa. So we drove a little further to Los Caños de Meca near Trafalgar. This is where the English fleet fought against the Spanish and French fleets under Nelson in 1805. England was victorious, Napoleon couldn't invade England, and Nelson died in the fighting. Fun fact: Since Nelson was to be buried in London, he was placed in a barrel of brandy to preserve him for the long journey. Despite the cliffs and dangerous currents, the town, which really only consists of one road, is a mecca for windsurfers. Here we enjoy the (unpredicted) sunshine and walk on the beach.

The pitch is close to the beach, is fully equipped and has a children's playground.

La Janda, Andalusia, Spain

36° 11' 23.8" N 6° 1' 19.5" W

36.1899337 -6.0220713

Tarifa

We're located in the Tarifa Caravan Park (36.0179, -5.6105) for €15/night. The beach is supposedly only 200 meters away. Tarifa's beaches are an absolute dream. Fine, light sand meets turquoise water, all with a good breeze, a paradise for kitesurfers. Whether you want to chill, stroll through the dunes, or simply stare out at the sea with a cold drink, everyone will find their spot here. And: On clear days, you can even see Africa.

Calle Mar del Norte, Tarifa, Campo de Gibraltar, Andalusien, Spanien

36° 1' 4.8" N 5° 36' 39.1" W

36.0180014 -5.6108599

Tarifa

Tarifa is the southernmost tip of Europe. The old town, nestled between Moorish walls, whitewashed houses, and narrow streets, is full of small boutiques, tapas bars, and cafés where you could easily while away the entire afternoon. Sights include the Castillo de Guzmán el Bueno and the ancient city walls with the Torre Miramar, from which you have a magnificent view of Morocco – Africa is only 14 kilometers away! By chance, we stumble upon the Galeria del Mar – here, a German expat creates art and souvenirs from marine debris and flotsam. Popular not only with tourists but also as decoration for hotels and bars.