Discover La Encina: Railway History and Trails in Villena

La Encina is a former railway village in Villena, Alicante. Its distinctive character lies in the combination of railway history, festival traditions, the local townscape and hiking routes. If you are looking for a place with clear cultural and scenic points of interest, you can explore historical traces, a church, organised tours and routes connected with La Encina here.

From Railway Village to Local Cultural Heritage

The former railway village of La Encina in Villena, Alicante, was shaped by intensive railway activity from the mid-19th to the mid-20th century. La Encina railway station was built in the mid-19th century to connect Madrid and Alicante. This historical depth shapes the cultural and historical perspective on the place. La Encina was classified as a Bien de Relevancia Local (BRL), or Local Heritage Site of Significance, by the Conselleria de Educación, Cultura y Deporte. For your visit, railway history therefore provides a central theme.

Festivals in Honour of San Juan Bautista

Since 1914, La Encina has celebrated its festivals in honour of San Juan Bautista from 23 June to 26 June. The festival week includes activities ranging from the Pregón to the Cremà of the Falla. The period is therefore a clear cultural point of reference for planning your trip; at the same time, the festival tradition adds a festive local occasion to the historical character of the former railway village.

Promenade, Railway Elements and Church

Historical railway elements are displayed in a sculpture park along the main promenade of La Encina. They expand the view of the village’s former railway character with a visible local feature. The Iglesia de San Juan Bautista is a 20th-century church in the railway village of La Encina. This creates a cultural theme that vividly complements the history of the railway station, the promenade and the church architecture.

Hiking Routes Connected with La Encina

There are also two connections with La Encina when it comes to hiking. The PR-CV 197 hiking trail ends in Villena-La Encina; its final section passes over Cerro Rocín and the Cantera de la Encina before reaching the church of La Encina. In addition, the route “Desde La Encina a La Zafra” is part of Villena’s municipal sports guide. If you choose routes according to their scenic and cultural points of reference, you will find both a section with specific terrain features and another route with La Encina in its title here.

On-Site Tours and Virtual Museum

Guided tours of the railway village of La Encina are available on request and are organised by the Ayuntamiento de Villena. In addition, La Encina’s community virtual museum remains open to new contributions. The two offerings complement the visible themes of the village with a guided and a digital perspective. This allows travellers interested in culture to explore La Encina both on site and through new virtual contributions.

Which Accommodation Base Suits Your Plans?

When choosing a hotel or other accommodation for your trip to La Encina, you can focus on your own interests. The combination of railway history, festivals, church architecture and hiking routes particularly appeals to those who want to combine culture and excursions. This keeps the accommodation decision aligned with your travel plans without reducing La Encina to just one single theme.

More Places to Include in Your Plans

If you would like to discover more places for planning your trip, you can find Relleu, Benijófar, Los Arenales Del Sol, Xinorlet, La Mandarina, Ondara, Alcoleja and Benifato here.

For the higher-level travel overview: Alicante.