La Presa – Water, History and Landscape
Accommodation in La Presa
La Presa: Water, History and Landscape
La Presa brings together a waterworks facility, a long history of irrigation and an adjacent recreational area in Manises. At its centre is the La Presa water treatment plant, a century-old water supply facility serving València and the metropolitan area. This gives you an unusual way to experience Valencia: not only the city’s history, but also the region’s infrastructure and established uses are visible here as tangible parts of the destination.
File:La Presa, estación de metro en Manises 01.JPG
Photo: 19Tarrestnom65 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
A Waterworks with a Specific Historical Connection
The Assut de la Presa dates from 1850. The weir known as La Presa fed the Sèquia dels Alcavons, also called Acequia de Manises. The Assut de la Presa supplies drinking water to València and the municipalities of the metropolitan area. The history of the place thus brings together a dated weir, the Sèquia dels Alcavons and the water supply of the metropolitan area. The names Sèquia dels Alcavons and Acequia de Manises refer to the same watercourse.
Water Supply, Irrigation and Ceramics
The La Presa water treatment plant is considered Europe’s oldest facility still operating at its original location. A special royal privilege granted to the Acequia de Manises is also associated with James I. This privilege allowed the Acequia de Manises to use water for irrigation and also included the use of water by ceramic workshops. These two historical uses connect agriculture and craftsmanship with La Presa’s water management.
Archaeological and Industrial Traces
The history of the area also includes archaeological remains from Roman times. They were found near the water conduits at La Presa metro station. At the La Presa facility, buildings more than one hundred years old are preserved as evidence of its industrial past. Some former workers’ houses are still preserved at the entrance to the facility. The traces therefore range from Roman water conduits to La Presa’s industrial buildings and former workers’ houses.
Recreational Area and Current Status
The Área recreativa de La Presa recreational area is located in Manises next to València’s water treatment plant. La Presa is therefore associated both with a recreational space and a water supply facility; the two themes are located in immediate proximity to each other. This creates a setting where landscape and technical infrastructure are directly interconnected.
As of 26 March 2026, the La Presa recreational area had been completely destroyed following the DANA from 28 October to 4 November 2024. Because of the high flood risk at the original location, relocation to a safer setting was planned. This disruption is part of La Presa’s more recent history and exists alongside the water treatment plant, which is considered to still be in operation.
More Destinations in the Region
If you would like to compare La Presa with other destinations in the region, you can continue your exploration here: Barx, Pedralba, Sinarcas, La Drova, Sagunto, Xeraco, La Cuevarruz, Navarrés.
For the main travel overview: Valencia.
