Nestled in the scenic region of Matarraña, Teruel, the Solo Sculpture Trail is an open-air sculpture park that transforms natural landscapes into a stage for contemporary art. Originally conceived as a temporary biennial exhibition by the Albarrán Bourdais Gallery, the project has evolved into a permanent experience, combining art, nature, and gastronomy for visitors to explore at leisure. Opening to the public on June 15, 2025, the trail spans around four kilometers and can be traversed on foot or by bicycle, offering a seamless blend of cultural and natural immersion.
The trail is set against the backdrop of the Puertos de Tortosa-Beceite Natural Park, a lush, verdant area often compared to the Italian Tuscany. Scattered across vineyards, olive groves, and open fields are around twenty sculptures by renowned artists such as Jose Dávila, Koo Jeong A, Claudia Comte, Alicja Kwade, and Héctor Zamora. The artworks invite visitors not only to contemplate but also to interact, encouraging younger audiences to engage playfully. Many pieces carry political or environmental messages, highlighting the connection between art and contemporary issues.
Visitors begin their journey at Venta d’Aubert, an organic winery that became part of the Solo Houses project in 2022. From here, sculptures gradually appear along the route, creating unexpected encounters with art in the midst of nature. While the trail can be explored independently for a modest fee of five euros, guided tours are available on Saturdays for eight euros, offering deeper insights into the works and their contexts.
Among the permanent highlights, Alicja Kwade’s “Absorption” challenges perceptions of reality and time, while Claudia Comte’s “Burning Sunset” and “Nikolai (Big Marble Coral)” address climate change, forest conservation, and the delicate relationship between land and ocean. These pieces, often discovered unexpectedly at the valley’s edge, gain new meaning when approached from different vantage points. Another striking work, “Orbital” by Mona Hatoum, features a tilted globe made of reinforced steel and concrete, reflecting the universe’s creation through destruction, with the region’s natural beauty as a complementary backdrop.
The 2025 edition introduces several new works designed to provoke thought and surprise. Cristina Lucas’s “Round Around” explores how maps shape our understanding of geopolitics, while Fernando Sánchez-Castillo’s “Abajo la inteligencia” uses neon to critique monumental discourse and power dynamics. Additional contributions from Superlex, Olivier Mosset, Jose Dávila, Jordi Colomer, and Sofía Salazar complete a diverse collection of outdoor installations, updated every two years to maintain an evolving dialogue with visitors and the landscape.
Beyond the sculptures, the project integrates architectural experiences through Solo Houses. Among them, Solo Pezo Von Ellrichshausen is a sculptural ensemble of reinforced concrete volumes that appear to float in the air, while Solo Office KGDVS is a circular house emphasizing the surrounding landscape and a direct connection with nature. Both residences allow guests to disconnect and reconnect with themselves, complementing the contemplative art experience. Plans for a 25-room hotel by Smiljan Radic, set to open in 2028, aim to expand the site’s appeal for cultural and leisure tourism.
Of the 200 hectares managed by Albarrán Bourdais, 18 hectares are vineyards producing artisanal wines crafted by enologists Stefan Dorst and César Fernández Díaz. Visitors can enjoy tastings of Garnacha, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon at the end of the trail, further blending the senses of sight, smell, and taste with the experience of art and nature.
The project also revitalizes a part of rural Spain that had been largely abandoned near the small town of Cretas, home to just 570 residents. Local artisans and craftsmen often assist in installing some sculptures, turning the process into a collaborative and inspiring challenge. In this way, Solo Sculpture Trail fosters a poetic ecosystem, connecting contemporary art with community, landscape, and heritage.
Completing the visit, a short drive to the nearby medieval towns of Cretas and Valderrobres offers a perfect cultural capstone. These charming villages provide insight into the region’s history while complementing an itinerary that harmonizes art, nature, and gastronomy. For travelers seeking a hidden gem of Spain, Solo Sculpture Trail presents a unique, immersive, and enduring artistic experience, where creativity and landscape intertwine seamlessly.