Benimantell: Hiking Trails, Cultural Heritage and Olleta de Blat

Benimantell combines hiking, cycling, cultural heritage and regional cuisine into a trip with different daily rhythms. If you are weighing up nature experiences, local history and enjoyable stops, you will find specific points of interest here – from trails on the Aitana to “Olleta de Blat”.

Cultural Heritage and Townscape

The parish church of Benimantell, dedicated to Saint Vincent Mártir, stands prominently in the townscape. The architecturally noteworthy building has a square bell tower consisting of three sections and a hexagonal spire. Extensive remains have been preserved at Castellet de Benimantell, including walls, the main tower, several smaller defensive towers and the remains of an Islamic cistern that supplied the fortress with water.

The town’s cultural character also includes the “Pi Ver”, a monumental pine tree regarded in Benimantell as significant natural and cultural heritage. For the local population, it is a symbol and is understood as a witness to the town’s history. Near the Font del Molí, visitors can see a so-called “Clot de la neu”. The streets also feature ceramic panels with religious depictions.

The streets of Benimantell are steep and labyrinthine. Shady lanes evoke a medieval street layout and give a walk through the town a distinctive sense of space. The Embalse de Guadalest also shapes the surrounding area: it covers parts of the municipality of Benimantell.

Hiking and Climbing on the Aitana

The PR-CV 9 hiking trail runs along part of the southern slope of the Aitana, parallel to the Arc gorge, climbs to the Comptador Pass and then descends from there to Benimantell. The trail is 16.30 km long; the estimated walking time is 4 hours and 40 minutes. It ends at the connection with the CV-70 road in Benimantell.

A shorter option is the “Sender de la Serra”. This partly circular, well-signposted hiking trail starts and ends in Benimantell, is approximately 12 km long and takes about 3 hours on foot. Benimantell also has several climbing schools with areas for beginners and long routes. The offerings are suitable for all ability levels and age groups.

Cycling Routes Between Mountains and Sea

There are various routes to choose from for mountain biking tours. The “Vuelta a los pueblos del Valle” route is a circuit that starts in Benimantell and follows alternative roads to the main road through all the other villages in the Guadalest Valley. The mountain bike route from Benimantell to Altea connects the mountains with the sea, passes the reservoir and follows the course of the Guadalest River. It is classified as moderate and is 22 km long; this distance refers to the one-way route.

When choosing accommodation in Benimantell, you can structure your daily rhythm around these specific highlights: hiking routes of different lengths and walking times, climbing opportunities, a moderate cycling tour towards Altea, or the cultural and culinary themes in the town.

Regional Cuisine and Getting There

The nine-day Semana Gastronómica de la “Olleta de Blat” focuses on the traditional dish Olleta de Blat. The dish is regarded as a traditional staple of the villages in the Guadalest Valley.

The CV-70 is the key route for travelling to Benimantell: the town can be reached via this road, which is connected to the AP-7.

Discover More Places

For further orientation, you can find Benidoleig, Cocentaina, El Moncayo, Dénia, Castillo de Montemar, Onil, El Verger and Sanet Y Negrals here.

For the higher-level travel overview: Alicante.