Els Ibarsos: Hiking Trails, Festivals and History
Accommodation in Els Ibarsos
Els Ibarsos is a destination for you if you would like to combine hiking, local festivals and the history of a place. The PR-CV 348, the Tossal de la Cova, the Festes Patronals dels Ivarsos and the ecclesiastical buildings each add a different focus. Historic routes and the development of the settlement complement these themes.
Hiking Trails and Landscape
The PR-CV 348 circular hiking trail begins at Av. CastellĂł s/n in Els Ibarsos. It has 970 m of ascent and 970 m of descent, passes through hilly terrain between cultivated areas on the way to Els Ibarsos and crosses the village via the old road. From Els Ibarsos, numerous excursions, particularly suitable for walking, lead along pleasant paths to the Tossal de la Cova. In connection with the PR-CV 348, the Serra d'en Galceran is both a ZEC (Zona de Especial ConservaciĂłn, Special Area of Conservation) and an SCI (Lugar de Importancia Comunitaria, Site of Community Importance).
Orientation Between the History of the Village and Its Routes
The CV-15 regional road runs east of the village, separated from it by a square, almost parallel to Els Ibarsos. It connects the settlements Els Rosildos and Els Ibarsos to Albocácer in the north and Vall d'Alba in the south. In the Middle Ages, there was an inn near Els Ibarsos beside the royal road from Valencia to Morella.
Festivals Throughout the Year
The Festes Patronals dels Ivarsos take place every year in May in honour of the Mare de DĂ©u dels Desemparats. They last ten days and include activities for all age groups. Bullfighting events involving a wide variety of breeding farms take place throughout the festivities. If you plan your stay for this period, the local festival culture will clearly be the main focus.
Sant Antoni, Lanterns and Rotllos
The Festes de Sant Antoni in Els Ivarsos include a procession: horses are led around a bonfire, followed by domestic animals from the village. The Sant Antoni procession is called del Farolet; the front of the procession and some participants carry lanterns. Rotllos, traditional local pastries, are also distributed in Els Ibarsos to celebrate Sant Antoni. In this way, the procession, animal custom, light and a local festive gift come together in a distinctive tradition.
Settlement and Cultural Heritage
In the Middle Ages, Els Ivarsos and the Rambla Carbonera formed an extensive rural settlement (Masada) within the municipal area of La Serra d'en Galceran. In 1583, the Mas d'Els Ivarsos was established. In the 18th century, the population of the Masada grew with the construction of the Ermita dels Desemparats. The Parròquia de la Mare de Déu dels Desemparats dels Ibarsos was built around 1985 and, under the fifth additional provision of Law 5/2007 of 9 February of the Generalitat amending Law 4/1998 of 11 June on Valencian cultural heritage, has the status of an Asset of Local Relevance (Bé de Rellevà ncia Local).
When choosing your accommodation, you can focus your stay on these specific themes: hiking trails, the ten-day May festival period, Sant Antoni, or the history of the buildings and settlement. Which of these options suits your own pace is for you to decide based on your way of travelling.
For the broader travel overview: La Serra D'en Galceran.
