On the outskirts of the historic medieval town of Sigüenza, in the Spanish province of Guadalajara, in an old 14th-century stone mill, lies the Relais & Châteaux Molino de Alcuneza Boutique Hotel and Restaurant, a peaceful retreat that champions sustainability.
It was in 1992 when the Moreno family acquired the property with the aim of restoring it and putting the old mill back into operation. After a thorough renovation, it opened its doors as a simple and cosy boutique hotel with eleven rooms. Fourteen years later, his children took over the management, with Samuel as chef and Blanca as manager.
Since then, more than three decades have passed in which the Moreno brothers’ expertise has made Molino de Alcuneza a benchmark in the national hospitality industry, becoming part of the prestigious national association Relais & Châteaux in 2014.
A benchmark for best practices thanks to its personalised hospitality, culinary excellence, connection with the environment, focus on wellbeing and sustainability, it is committed to establishing partnerships with small local producers, whom it calls ‘the guardians of the land’. Close collaboration with farmers, beekeepers and livestock breeders who have lived off the land with respect for generations, working in the traditional way to produce simple products that are transformed into delicious dishes in the kitchens of Molino de Alcuneza.
The charm of a wonderful hotel
Molino de Alcuneza, the ideal place to escape the daily grind and return to everyday life with your batteries recharged, has seventeen comfortable and bright rooms offering magnificent views of the Alto Henares valley.
The rooms, designed to offer a well-deserved and comforting rest, are divided into one Classic Small, five Classic, four Superior, two Suites with terraces, four Suites and one Premium Suite, located in the old mill and in another newly constructed building opposite the swimming pool.
The Classic Small room combines modern amenities with centuries-old architecture to ensure an unforgettable experience. Decorated in soft white and tan tones and antique pieces, it is equipped to create a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere.
The Classic rooms offer views of the garden, the mountains or the orchards and farmland. The white, soft tan and brown tones and the linen and cotton curtains blend perfectly with the wood and walls finished with traditional plaster typical of the region’s architecture, giving them the warm charm of a Castilian mansion.
The Superior rooms are decorated in white and natural tones and complemented with antique pieces. The exposed beams in the high ceilings of some rooms are a reminder of the hotel’s historical heritage.
The Suites with terrace feature a private balcony overlooking the pool and garden. Beige and white tones, antique pieces and linen and cotton curtains shape the décor of these rooms, creating a modern, spacious and welcoming atmosphere.
The Suites offer an attractive combination of modern amenities and Castilian architecture. All of them are different: one is in the main building, another is accessible on the ground floor with an entrance from the garden, and two more are attic rooms with views of the pool. With a modern, spacious and welcoming atmosphere, its tranquillity invites you to relax.
Finally, the Premium Suite offers a spacious, bright and comfortable duplex apartment with independent access from the garden. A study lounge that can be converted into an extra bedroom on the first floor and a bedroom with a private terrace, garden views and en-suite bathroom with shower make up this luxurious accommodation.
To complete the experience, Molino de Alcuneza has a spa spread over three levels. The first floor features a hammam, sauna, aromatherapy shower, Scottish contrast shower and chromotherapy rain shower. On the second level, there is a relaxation room, heated relaxation loungers and a jet HydroSpa, finishing on the third floor with the treatment and massage room.
A genuine commitment to sustainability
At a time when sustainability has come to play a leading role in the hospitality industry, Molino de Alcuneza has achieved admirable heights.
They practise what they call ‘gastronomic activism’ through partnerships with small producers in the province with the aim of preserving the region’s natural wealth and helping to stabilise the population.
At Molino de Alcuneza, they cherish the land they live on by putting into practice the teachings they received from their parents: the importance of caring for their roots and remaining true to their identity.
Some of the local products that fill his pantry are organic virgin olive oil of the Castilian Verdeja variety, cold-pressed by AOVE La Común (Sacedón), fleur de sel and coarse salt from Saelices de la Sal, Roman salt flats in Alcarria that were brought back into operation a few years ago; honey with the Miel de la Alcarria designation of origin from El Colmenar de Valderromero (Sigüenza), local game meats and sausages from Precaza (Sauca) and El Doncel (Sigüenza), black truffles from Zero (Cifuentes), wines from Bodegas Río Negro (Cogolludo), craft gin from Lavandagin (Sigüenza), craft beers from Arriaca and La Seguntina de Despelta, both from Guadalajara, and DeSpelta flours (Palazuelos), which has recovered ancient grains from local varieties and with which the chef prepares dishes such as croquettes with giant rye flour or pigeon with black wheat breadcrumbs.
Samuel, one of Spain’s best-known chefs and bakers, shares the endless possibilities offered by these flours through online organic baking courses, even creating a kit for making bread at home with live sourdough and these organic flours.
Certified with the Biosphere Sustainable Lifestyle and Biosphere Tourism seals since January 2021, Molino de Alcuneza has four charging stations for electric vehicles, LED lighting, recyclable and bio-based amenities, solar panels and high energy efficiency equipment. In addition, they work with locally filtered water and carry out exhaustive waste control by recycling glass, packaging, paper, oil, coffee capsules and aluminium, while the rest of the waste is taken to a recycling plant or a recycling centre. They complement this commitment to sustainability with strong support for local consumption and its promotion, and they encourage quality employment, actively contributing to stabilising the population in the Sierra Norte de Guadalajara area.
The Molino de Alcuneza restaurant
Samuel defines himself as a classic chef with a solid foundation in traditional cuisine, and his creations combine creativity with good taste and artisan skill. Fresh and daring cuisine, more mountainous than La Mancha-style, using sustainable, seasonal, locally sourced and, in many cases, organic products, or at least products that are as environmentally friendly as possible.
His dishes are also light and tasty thanks to the use of raw fish and smoky, acidic and vegetable flavours. The current menu features snacks such as spelt bread perdigacho, trout tartare with roe, and giant rye croquettes with Iberian ham and goat’s milk, as well as dishes such as white asparagus with egg yolk gel, tear peas, and Iberian ham; black garlic ramen soup from La Mancha with mushrooms; ravioli with Toledo-style stewed partridge with creamy carrot and cumin; pork trotter carpaccio with pork rinds, capers and lemon; and suckling pig with roasted garlic cream, Alcarria honey and truffle. Creations that can be enjoyed in any of their tasting menus: Molienda, Clásicos and Esencias.
The Molino de Alcuneza restaurant and its chef have been awarded a Michelin star and a Michelin Green Star, as well as a Repsol Sustainable Sun in recognition of their environmental policies and commitment to local resources.
Aligned with the Slow Food movement, Samuel has become one of the spokespeople for this trend, which is supported by Relais & Chateaux through the Food for Change campaign.
On the other hand, Blanca is one of the hundred participants in G100-Cooperación, an organisation that aims to devise and implement actions that contribute to building a new reality based on social innovation and cooperation. The programme has four areas of action: digital economy, sustainability, citizenship and heritage, culture and tourism, the latter being the area in which Blanca works with the aim of making these rural revitalisation projects a reality.
The Relais & Chateaux Molino de Alcuneza Boutique Hotel and Restaurant is a charming accommodation offering luxury service, where you can read by the fireplace, relax in the spa, stroll through the garden, enjoy the swimming pool or simply listen to the birds singing or the flow of the Henares River, which runs through the estate. These are just some of the wonderful experiences you can enjoy here. Molino de Alcuneza is the perfect getaway.
https://www.molinodealcuneza.com/en/molino-de-alcuneza-english/
