Simat de la Valldigna between monastery trails and mountain paths

Monastic history and Valencian architectural heritage

The Reial Monestir de Santa Maria de la Valldigna is shaped not only by its founding history but also by architecture from several periods. Gothic elements from the 14th century blend with Baroque sections from the 17th and 18th centuries. During a guided tour, participants learn about everyday life in the monastery as well as its historical and artistic value.

In the centre of Simat de la Valldigna stands the Iglesia de San Miguel Arcángel, a Baroque church from the 17th century built over an earlier mosque. Another historic building is the Antiga Mesquita de la Xara. It was built around the 15th century and later converted into a church dedicated to Saint Anne. The Antiga Mesquita de la Xara is considered one of the most important mosques in the Comunitat Valenciana and a testament to the Muslim religion in the former Kingdom of Valencia.

Hiking routes with clearly defined trail profiles

The Camí dels Burros, PR-CV 51, starts at Font Gran in Simat and leads to the summit of Penyalba. The route is designated as a 7.9 km hike lasting 3 hours and 30 minutes, with a moderate difficulty level. It therefore offers a clearly described option for anyone who wants to organise their time in Simat around a specific route and a fixed destination.

The PR-CV 50 Senda del Toro offers a different perspective. It follows traditional paths through the Sierra del Toro to its main peaks and provides views across a large part of the Valldigna Valley. The Senda del Toro is designated as an 11.80 km circular route. The GR-236 is the hiking section of the Ruta dels Monestirs; it is more than 90 km long, follows historic paths, starts at Gandia railway station and ends at Alzira railway station.

The Ruta dels Monestirs is a tourist route connecting the Santa María de la Valldigna monastery in Simat with La Murta in Alzira, Aigües Vives in Carcaixent, Sant Jeroni de Cotalba in Alfauir and Corpus Christi in Llutxent. Depending on your travel plans, individual hikes, historic visits and a longer route can therefore be considered together thematically without confusing their different distances.

Water routes and viewpoints

The Ruta de l'Aigua is accompanied by an information board with general details about the route and nine interpretive panels at key points: Fontarda, Llavador, Gorg de l'ast, Brolls, Arcades del Cirer, Font del Cirer, Font de l'Escudella, Molí Company and the partidors de les séquies. Font del Cirer is designed as a recreational area with tables, information boards and a viewpoint overlooking the Valldigna Valley.

Local cuisine and independent discoveries

The Valldigna also has a distinctive culinary profile. Traditional Coques are among the region's most characteristic gastronomic traditions; these include coca de mestall, coca de dacsa and coca de puntilla. With Els Tresors de Simat, you can explore Simat independently with an audio guide from the Tourist Info office or accompanied by a local guide. When choosing your hotel, the focus of your trip can therefore be decisive: monastic history, a designated hiking route, water routes or regional specialities each give your stay a different character.

Other places in the Valencian area

Los Cojos, Piles, Segart, Yátova, Canet D'en Berenguer, Albuixech, Albaida, Torrent

For the broader travel overview: Valencia.