Huécar

Huécar is a river in central Spain, a left-bank tributary of the Júcar. Its headwaters lie in the mountains of Cuenca province, and the river flows through the city of Cuenca, where it carves the Hoz de Huécar, a dramatic limestone gorge that shapes the urban landscape. The river's course includes tributaries along its way and it eventually merges with the Júcar, which continues to the Mediterranean Sea.

In Cuenca, the Huécar is crossed by several bridges, among them the Puente de San Pablo, which connects different parts of the city across the gorge. The cliff above the river is famous for the Casas Colgadas, or Hanging Houses, a historic group of buildings that project over the gorge and are among Spain’s best-known architectural landmarks.

Ecology and landscape: The Huécar valley supports riparian vegetation and contributes to the regional scenery and biodiversity of the Cuenca area. Historically, the river has been important for the city’s water supply and development, and today it remains a central feature of Cuenca’s cultural and tourist identity.