Around the world: our most unusual itineraries

Step off the beaten track, explore places you might not have thought of, run through the desert or a lush jungle... JOOKS has some exceptional routes to suggest, wherever you are! Join us as we discover the ghost town of Granadilla, the vast desert landscapes of central Argentina, or Pristina, the vibrant heart of Kosovo...

Granadilla

Running through the deserted streets of Granadilla – an unforgettable experience!

Granadilla Castle, dating from the 13th century, stands in the eponymous ghost town. The town belongs to the Spanish municipality of Zarza de Granadilla, a former seigneury of Granada, which was a former fortified town of feudal origin in the north-west of the province of Cáceres. It was once an important town, the capital of the region known as the Tierras de Granadilla and the seat of a judicial district. The fortress was founded by the Muslims in the 9th century, as it stands on a slate hill overlooking a vast expanse of land and forms a key point on the Vía de la Plata, the Silver Route. In its most vulnerable section, to the north-west, the Almohads built the citadel. In 1160, the town was conquered by Ferdinand II, thus coming under Christian rule; he fortified the entire town.

Its inhabitants were evicted in the mid-20th century, when the area became a flood zone following the construction of the Gabriel y Galán reservoir. Today, it remains officially classified as such, although neither the town nor the castle has ever been flooded, even when the reservoir was full. Today, it is a remarkable site, protected by the government; you will come across many campers who come to enjoy the unrivalled atmosphere of this abandoned stronghold.

San Juan

Discover Argentina’s spectacular landscapes

Set against a majestic backdrop in the heart of Argentina lies the city of San Juan. Ranked among the country’s top ten major urban centres, it was founded on 13 June 1562 by the conquistador Juan Jufré de Loayza under the name San Juan de la Frontera. Nearby, there are numerous tourist attractions: the Embalse and Ullum dams, the Quebrada de Zonda... As well as thermal springs, museums and, not to be missed, the starting point for the local wine routes.

The province is vast: it covers nearly 90,000 km², an area slightly larger than that of a country such as Serbia. The landscape is mountainous, interspersed with arid valleys. Indeed, the city lies at the heart of the Tulum oasis and is home to over 60% of the province’s total population. Not far away lies Ischigualasto: a major palaeontological site featuring strange geological formations dating from the Triassic period. JOOKS invites you to discover San Juan, but above all its surroundings, via long cycle routes, in the land of alpacas and vicuñas!

Soumagne

The mining town of Soumagne holds hidden treasures in the valleys of the Magne

Nestled in the green plains of Belgium lies the small town of Soumagne, in the Pays de Herve, about fifteen kilometres from Liège and Verviers.

As you walk along the Magne, the town’s main stream, you can learn about the history of this mining town, whose roots stretch back to prehistoric times, as evidence of Neolithic settlement has been found here. You’ll pass through the town of Ayeneux and its provincial estate, where you can admire Wégimont Castle, a Renaissance building that is one of the region’s most remarkable sites. JOOKS offers no fewer than 10 routes for exploring this pretty Walloon town, its rolling countryside and its bocage.

Pristina

Take in the view of the National Library of Kosovo during your stroll through Pristina

Pristina, often overlooked, is the capital and largest city of Kosovo, a territory with disputed status. Situated near the Goljak Mountains, a few kilometres north of the Šar Mountains and Lake Badovac, it is home to impressive landmarks such as the National Library and the Xhamia Mosque, as well as war memorials such as Newborn and Heroinat.

An unusual detail: the two tributaries of the Ibar that used to flow through the city – the Vellucha, which descends from the Germia hills to the east, and the Pristina, which flows to the west of the old town – were covered over in the 1950s and the late 1970s respectively, thereby connecting them to the city’s sewerage system. Pristina is therefore a city without any watercourses.

It also boasts a history stretching back a thousand years: inhabited since Roman times, it was chosen as the capital by the Serbian king Milutin (1282–1321) and his successors. However, the Ottoman occupation in 1389 following the Battle of Kosovo Polje foreshadowed its complete conquest in 1454. The long period that followed shaped the city’s future. Indeed, to assert his authority, Sultan Mehmed II ordered the construction of the Imperial Mosque. Consequently, most of the inhabitants converted to Islam. As you explore Pristina, you will have the pleasure of discovering both this Muslim culture at the heart of the Balkans and a city that has been modernised since the war.

Ubud

Between art and temples, the mysterious town of Ubud will reveal all its secrets to you during your run

The jewel of the island of Bali in Indonesia, the town of Ubud will transport you to a past that is as mysterious as it is exotic.

At the confluence of two rivers, near Campuhan, a Javanese priest named Rsi Markendya is said, according to legend, to have meditated there in the 8th century. At the foot of Gunung Lebah, he is said to have built a temple which later attracted many pilgrims. Thus was founded this town, which has since become a major source of numerous herbs and plants used in traditional medicine. The Indonesian word ubad, meaning ‘medicine’, is in fact the origin of the name Ubud.

By the end of the 19th century, Ubud had established itself as a political and cultural centre, serving as the seat of the feudal lords of the ksatriya family of Sukawati. They had pledged allegiance to the King of Gianyar, the most powerful of the southern Balinese principalities. They helped to spread the village’s growing artistic reputation.

Walter Spies, a German of Russian origin who taught art and music and had a passion for dance, is credited with launching the town’s tourism industry. The place has also attracted many famous figures. Charlie Chaplin, Noel Coward, Barbara Hutton, H. G. Wells, Margaret Mead, Gregory Bateson, and Vicki Baum, to name but a few, helped Ubud become the cultural centre of Bali. With the emergence of the young artists’ movement and the work of the Dutch painter Arie Smit in the 1960s, Ubud was able to continue to develop as a major artistic centre in the country.

In Ubud, you will find some magnificent museums, including Puri Lukisan, which houses a superb collection of artworks from the 1930s; the Neka Museum, which displays the extensive personal collection of Wayan Suteja Neka, an art lover from Ubud; and the Agung Rai Museum.

Beauvais

The vast, unfinished cathedral of Beauvais towers over you from the full height of its Gothic choir

If the name Beauvais only makes you think of an airport, why not pop over there for a quick break during your next weekend in the French capital!

Indeed, its history dates back to the 1st century AD. During the Middle Ages, the city flourished, particularly in the textile industry, which contributed significantly to the city’s development and economic growth. Here you’ll find the magnificent Saint-Pierre Cathedral in Beauvais, an unfinished masterpiece of Gothic architecture, which boasts the world’s tallest Gothic choir – 48.50 metres! If you step inside the cathedral, you’ll be able to admire a 19th-century masterpiece by Auguste-Lucien Vérité: its superb astronomical clock.

On your way, not far from the old town, stands a medieval hospital that is almost unrivalled among its French counterparts. You will pass the former leper colony of Saint-Lazare, built in the 12th century. Beauvais is brimming with centuries-old monuments; as you stroll through the town, you will be able to take in a thousand years of history.

Plovdiv

A symbol of the city, the Roman theatre of Philippopolis bears witness to Bulgaria’s incredible wealth

In Bulgaria, off the beaten track, Plovdiv surprises visitors with its unexpected charm. Nestled between the Rhodope Mountains and the vast Thracian Plain, this ancient city captivates visitors as much with its relaxed atmosphere as with its incredible historical richness. A Roman theatre in perfect condition, cobbled streets lined with colourful houses, street art everywhere: every street corner offers a new facet of its multifaceted identity.

Plovdiv is also known for its hills. Seven, to be precise. Or rather six, since one of them – Markovo Tepe – was levelled at the start of the 20th century to make way for a shopping centre. A rare, almost absurd fact: here, hills are being cleared away in the name of modernity.

Originally a Thracian settlement that became Philippopolis under the Roman Empire, it has seen the Byzantines, Bulgarians and Ottomans pass through, leaving behind a rich architectural and cultural heritage. Even today, this diversity is evident in the details: a Bulgarian Renaissance façade stands alongside an Ottoman hammam or a contemporary fresco. Exploring Plovdiv on foot or while running is like travelling through the centuries, from antiquity to the present day, in a creative and unique atmosphere.

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