Vilamarxant between Nature Park, River Paths and History

Les Rodanes and the Túria landscape

Les Rodanes was designated a municipal natural area in 2002 and covers approximately 600 hectares. The landscape is characterised by siliceous red sandstone formations and offers a wide variety of trails for active tourism. A particularly useful route for walks is the Senda adaptada Les Rodanes in the Bassa Barreta area. The trail, intended exclusively for pedestrians, has been adapted for people with reduced mobility; it is 1 kilometre long and 1.5 metres wide. Its facilities include boardwalks, bridges and 17 access ramps.

There is also a path from Bassa Barreta to Rodana Gran. There, you can also see the trenches built in Les Rodanes between 1938 and 1939 against a possible direct attack by Nationalist troops on Valencia. They formed part of the defensive line known as La Inmediata. Four information panels along the PR-CV 175 hiking trail provide additional orientation. This trail begins at the municipal cemetery of Vilamarxant, where parking spaces are available for safely leaving cars.

Trails, plants and river observation

The Senda adaptada Les Rodanes is designed not only to provide an accessible route but also to convey knowledge about the natural environment. Three information panels cover the area's fauna, vegetation and geomorphology; additional educational panels focus on the vegetation found there. In the Arboreto i Rocalla, 120-metre-long footpaths lead through seven sections. More than 40 taxa and approximately 200 plants in total grow there. The planted species are labelled with their common names in Spanish and Valencian, as well as their scientific names in Latin. The information is also available in Braille.

La Pea is a natural area on the Túria River. Both the 450-hectare mountain and the entire river section within the municipal area were incorporated into Túria Nature Park; riparian vegetation predominates in this area. Paths invite you to go for walks, while you can observe river birds such as great cormorants, grey herons and short-toed snake eagles, as well as native fish such as barbel and eel. La Pea is connected to the Ruta Violeta de l’Aigua, the Ruta Roja de la Pea and a footpath along the riverbank.

River paths for different activities

The Parc Fluvial del Túria is an approximately 30-kilometre-long nature trail along the bed of the Túria River. It runs from the municipal area of Vilamarxant to the river's mouth in the city of Valencia. A multi-use path along the river also starts at the Vilamarxant visitor centre and can be used on foot, by bicycle or on horseback. For horse riders, route IE-031, Ruta del Turia, also begins in Vilamarxant and leads to Parque de Cabecera. The different lengths and modes of transport make it easier to choose a section that suits your plans for the day.

History among quarries, the old town and the castle

Pedrera del Rei is a former marble quarry in the Llomaina hill area within Túria Nature Park, which has been converted into a recreational area. Public paella cooking facilities are available there. In Vilamarxant's old town stands the restored 15th-century Arab cistern, which can be visited. It consists of an underground vaulted space with three interconnected chambers.

The preserved Puente de Hierro was a railway bridge on the former C-4 suburban railway line from Valencia. This line served Vilamarxant from 1889 to 1969; the bridge itself was built in the 19th century. The ruins of Vilamarxant Castle include an 11th-century Arab defensive tower. It stands at the highest point of the town centre, in the old-town district. The remains of the castle are associated with the designation Bien de Interés Cultural; they were registered in 2001.

Underground, the Cova de les Rates Penades extends for 552 metres to a depth of 57 metres. It contains an archaeological site attributed to the end of the Upper Palaeolithic.

Traditions with set dates

The festival calendar also shapes the town. In Vilamarxant, the Dansa dels Pastorets is performed every year on 25 December as a traditional Christmas dance by four dancers. The Sant-Antoni celebration takes place on 17 January or, usually, on the following Sunday. After Mass, animals are blessed, and traditional Sant-Antoni bread, a symbolic piece of carob and a small holy image are distributed. Anyone wishing to combine the natural and cultural attractions with such calendar-based customs will find specific occasions here alongside the landscapes and historical themes described as available year-round.

Discover more places: Chiva, Tavernes De La Valldigna, Gilet, La Pobla Del Duc, Navalón, Torres Torres, Jarafuel and Torrent.

To the main travel overview: Valencia.