Discover Albalat Dels Taronchers

Hiking between the Serra Calderona and the Palancia

The PR-CV 318 hiking trail starts and ends in Albalat dels Tarongers. For planning purposes, the exact dimensions of the route are important: the estimated duration is 4 hours and 47 minutes, and the total length is 13,618 metres. The net elevation difference is 335 metres, while the cumulative elevation gain is 780 metres. This information will help you realistically fit the trail into your travel day and allow sufficient time for breaks and the return to the starting point.

Another option is SL-CV 85, an officially approved circular hiking trail that includes the archaeological sites of Les Raboses and La Murta-El Palmeral. This allows you to combine a hiking plan with a historical focus, rather than considering the two interests separately. The route and its names remain clearly distinct from individual buildings and archaeological sites in the municipality.

Archaeology and historic buildings

The La Cova de l’Aigua Amarga archaeological site preserves rock paintings from the Chalcolithic period, dated to 2000 BC. Les Raboses is a Bronze Age archaeological site dated to the period between 1600 and 100 BC. Those interested in the region’s long history will find different periods and types of remains here, from prehistoric depictions to later fortified structures.

El Palau was built in the 14th or 15th century and preserves the features of a noble residence, including fortified towers with battlements. The building has a semi-basement with numerous pointed and round arches, as well as three floors containing the rooms of a noble residence. These include stables, an oil mill, a banqueting hall and living quarters. The Castillo del Piló, by contrast, lies in ruins. Parts of what were presumably once defensive towers, several collapsed sections of wall and other remains have survived. The Castellet de Comediana completes this historic selection as a medieval archaeological site dating from the 12th to the 15th century.

The present-day L’església also tells the story of several historical periods. The building was constructed between 1796 and 1803. It is designed in the neoclassical style and has a dome as well as four pendentives decorated with biblical motifs. The façade also features a stained-glass window depicting the Immaculate Conception by Joaquim Michavila, as well as a bell tower. During foundation repairs, a burial crypt containing bone remains and a large quantity of ceramics was discovered there in 1988.

Landscape and traditional festivals

The municipality extends partly into the Serra Calderona Natural Park and partly along the Palancia River and its valley. The Turó del Cavall, also known as Cavall Pelut, is designated there as a flora micro-reserve. These clearly named landscape areas provide different thematic starting points for your trip: when planning your day, you can consider hiking routes, natural landmarks and historic sites separately or in different sequences.

The established traditions include the Sant Antoni festival on 16 and 17 January. On Saint Anthony’s Day, animals and the municipality are blessed; a large fire is lit in the village square, where roasted sausages are traditionally eaten together. The traditional August festivals take place on 15, 16 and 17 August in honour of the Verge Maria d’Agost, Sant Roc and the Divina Pastora, respectively. The programme includes, among other events, La Volta a Peu, processions, a mascletà, a Truc tournament, masses, calderas, the traditional poalà, correfocs and bull events.

Choose accommodation based on your travel plans

When searching for hotels in Albalat Dels Taronchers, it is worth first deciding on the main focus of your stay. For the PR-CV 318, you should plan a hiking day lasting almost five hours, taking the stated elevation differences into account. If historical topics are the priority, you can mark the archaeological sites, El Palau, L’església and the Castellet de Comediana as separate research destinations. Access for travellers is via the national road from Sagunto to Teruel. Take this access route into account in your personal planning and check whether the location of your chosen accommodation suits your daily rhythm, excursions and the desired balance between nature and culture.

Research more destinations

For further research, you can also compare Bolbaite, Vilamarxant, Aielo de Malferit, Alginet, Mareny de Barraquetes, Xeraco, Benifairó De La Valldigna and Algar.

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More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Bolbaite, Vilamarxant, Aielo de Malferit, Alginet, Mareny de Barraquetes, Xeraco, Benifairó De La Valldigna, Algar.