On August 1, 1839, the liberal troops of General Leopoldo O’Donnell established their camp on one of the banks of the Veo River to launch a battle against a Carlist stronghold: the castle of Tales, fiercely defended by General Ramón Cabrera, known as “the Tiger of Maestrazgo.” After 15 days of arduous fighting, the liberal army took the site, marking the beginning of the end of the First Carlist War. Almost a century later, during another conflict—the Spanish Civil War—this riverside area was once again used as a cantonment, in this case for the Falange women fighting on the Francoist side.
These historical events are what gave rise to the name of this natural spot in the Sierra Espadán: El Campament. It is a beautiful limestone landscape that water has sculpted into winding shapes and waterfalls. The most famous is l’Engolidor, a 3-meter-high waterfall where local residents used to bathe in the past.
One of the walls in this enclave was equipped for sport climbing in 1998 by J. Carrión and S. Peñas. There are 12 routes of various levels that the Espadán-Mijares Commonwealth has recently upgraded as part of its tourism promotion plan for natural resources. There are two distinct sections within the shelter of this small climbing school: the left half of the wall consists of overhanging orange limestone that will delight experienced climbers, while the right half is grayish, slabby limestone with many natural holds, ideal for those wishing to start in this sport.
| Name | Grade | Length (m) |
| La lejana | V+ | 15 |
| Excalibur | 7 c | 15 |
| Macarró pels meus dits | 7 a | 20 |
| Tito periquito | 6 a | 15 |
| La ciudad del canto | 6 a | 15 |
| Tales City | 6 a | 15 |
| El tumbado | 6 b | 15 |
| Arista del artista | 6 b | 15 |
| Com pesa | V+ | 18 |
| Carretera y manta | V | 18 |
| El flautista | V | 18 |
| Via de Dorotea | V | 18 |
The variety of grades on the routes, the safety of the new installations, and the picturesque surroundings are more than enough reasons to pay a visit to this area. NUCS offers the possibility of starting in this sport at this and other locations in the Sierra Espadán, led by its certified mountain sports technicians.