Ontilles: Sanatorium History, Castle Remains and Hiking Trails

The visitor interests relevant to Ontilles range from the history of Fontilles to architecture and hiking routes. At the center is the Sanatorio San Francisco de Borja. It opened in 1909 to care for people suffering from leprosy and played a fundamental role in the elimination of leprosy in Spain. This history gives the destination a distinctive medical and social dimension.

History with continuing significance

The significance of the sanatorium is not exclusively historical: the Sanatorio San Francisco de Borja continues to be a reference center for training and research on leprosy. If you are interested in the history of medicine and social developments, you will encounter here both the former care of people suffering from the disease and its continuing role in training and research. This creates a clear connection between the past and the present.

Buildings, landscape and church architecture

The Fontilles valley also makes this history visible. The buildings, wall, fields and valley landscape of the Fontilles valley are material testimonies to personal and communal life stories, as well as to Spain's social, political, medical and cultural history. Anyone wishing to understand the character of the area can therefore consider not only individual structures, but also the interplay of the built environment, wall, fields and valley landscape.

The Església Sanatori de Fontilles is located at the entrance to the sanatorium. The church is dedicated to San Francisco de Borja, the founder of the Jesuit order, and features a Neoclassical façade in the style of an altarpiece. Its location, dedication and design give the church a clearly recognizable cultural and historical profile and complement the history of the sanatorium with an architectural dimension.

Castillo de Azabras and Trails through Fontilles

Another historical trace leads to the Castillo de Azabras. Its remains include sections of the wall, the remains of a square tower and a cistern. The Castillo de Azabras in Fontilles can be visited. The castle is therefore one of the destination's explicitly visitable attractions and broadens the view of the surviving built heritage beyond the sanatorium.

For planning your hike, the approved SL-CV 185.1 Variante Barranco de Fontilles offers a clearly defined route. It is a 1.30-kilometer linear trail and begins at the Plaza del Sanatorio de Fontilles. The variant leads from the Sanatorium de Fontilles along an old path to the Puerta de Orba.

In addition, the SL-CV 185 Sender de les Atzavares hiking trail leads to the Sanatorium de Fontilles. The two trails therefore use different orientation points: the Variante Barranco de Fontilles focuses on the Plaza, old path and Puerta de Orba, while the Sender de les Atzavares names the sanatorium as its destination. When you choose accommodation in Ontilles, you can accordingly set your personal focus among the history of the sanatorium, church architecture, castle remains and the two hiking trails.

More destinations for orientation

For further regional planning: Castell De Castells, Benissili, Daya Nueva, Els Poblets, La Vall D'alcalà, Busot, Daya Vieja and Bigastro.

For the overarching travel overview: Alicante.