WBC’26 in Cuenca, Spain
The next International Biography Congress will be held in Spain from May 20 to 24, 2026, at the Cueva del Fraile Hotel, near the city of Cuenca.
The Cueva del Fraile Hotel is located on a rural estate, a former 16th-century monastery, in the heart of the La Hoz del Río Huécar tourist route, just 7 km from the city of Cuenca. It offers a restaurant, gardens, and sports facilities.
How to get to Cuenca
You can reach the city via several routes:
Train
The high-speed train (AVE) in Spain allows quick travel between different cities and is the most practical option.
You can get to Cuenca directly by train from Madrid, Alicante, and Valencia.
The journey takes about 1 hour.
There is also a daily direct train to Cuenca (4h) from Málaga and Seville.
In Madrid, there are two main stations:
• Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes Station
• Chamartín-Clara Campoamor Station
The high-speed train (AVE) to Cuenca (1h trip) departs from Chamartín-
Clara Campoamor Station.
If you are coming from Barcelona, the best option is to take a train to Madrid (2.5 or 3 h) and then transfer to another train bound for Cuenca. Note that the train from Barcelona arrives at Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes Station, so you’ll need to transfer to Chamartín-Clara Campoamor Station.
To make this transfer (between two stations, 12 minutes apart), you need to take a local train (cercanías-renfe) within the same station (this transfer is included in your long-distance ticket and is therefore free).
You can also use Madrid Metro line 1 (blue) to the Atocha stop (metro fare not included in train ticket).
If you come from Bilbao, the best way to reach Madrid is by plane or by bus with the ALSA company (4 hours). The bus also stops at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, and from there, there are various options to reach Chamartín-Clara Campoamor Station in the city center (metro, bus, or taxi) to catch the train to Cuenca.
For ticket purchases and options from other cities, check the website:
https://www.thetrainline.com
Parador en el antiguo Convento de San Pablo
Bus
Two companies operate routes to Madrid from various locations in Spain.
You can find different options at:
www.avanzabus.com
www.alsa.es
Fachada de la Catedral de Santa María la Mayor de Cuenca
Plane
There are flights to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport from various cities in Spain, Europe, and other parts of the world.
From the airport, you can travel to Chamartín-Clara Campoamor Station in the city center (metro, bus, or taxi) and from there catch the train to Cuenca.
How to get from Cuenca to the Cueva del Fraile Hotel
From the Cuenca-Fernando Zóbel train station, you can take a bus (line 1), which departs every hour to the city center. Tickets are purchased from the driver, and it is advisable to have small bills (€5 / €10) or coins on hand. From there, take a taxi to the hotel.
The Cueva del Fraile Hotel
Entrance
Reception
Dining room
Pergola
Rooms
