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de la serra de mariola - Parques Naturales - Generalitat Valenciana

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<strong>de</strong> <strong>la</strong> <strong>serra</strong><br />

<strong>de</strong> mario<strong>la</strong><br />

English version


Parc Natural <strong>de</strong> <strong>la</strong> Serra <strong>de</strong> Mario<strong>la</strong><br />

<strong>serra</strong>_mario<strong>la</strong>@gva.es<br />

Mas dUll <strong>de</strong> Canals<br />

Ctra. Alcoi-Banyeres, km 17.5<br />

Apartado <strong>de</strong> correos 157<br />

13450 Banyeres <strong>de</strong> Mario<strong>la</strong> (A<strong>la</strong>cant)<br />

Tel. 965 56 63 83<br />

http://parquesnaturales.gva.es<br />

Assistance from:<br />

Printing this material has been possible thanks to the Cooperation Agreement<br />

signed on 21st April 2006 by the Caja <strong>de</strong> Ahorros y Pensiones <strong>de</strong> Barcelona, "<strong>la</strong> Caixa"<br />

and the <strong>Generalitat</strong> <strong>Valenciana</strong> (Autonomous Community Authority) for Un<strong>de</strong>rtaking<br />

the Integral Management P<strong>la</strong>n for Conservation of the Natural Systems of the<br />

Valencian Community’s Network of Nature Reserves.<br />

Layout:<br />

Photography:<br />

Map Design:<br />

Texts:<br />

Printed:<br />

Legal Deposit:<br />

Benjamín Albiach Galán<br />

Kun.Xusa Beltrán<br />

Benjamín Albiach Galán<br />

Núria Lara Bernàcer<br />

Miquel Vives i Miralles<br />

G. B.<br />

Pau Pérez Puigcerver<br />

source: ICV (Cartographic Institute of Valencia)<br />

Environmental educacion team<br />

Centro Especial <strong>de</strong> Empleo, IVADIS


Date of PORN approval:<br />

2nd April 2001<br />

Date on which it was <strong>de</strong>c<strong>la</strong>red a Nature Reserve:<br />

8th gener 2002<br />

Municipalities insi<strong>de</strong> the Reserve:<br />

Shared by Agres (723 m), Alcoy (560 m),<br />

Alfafara (582 m), Banyeres <strong>de</strong> Mario<strong>la</strong> (816 m),<br />

Bocairent (641 m), Cocentaina (435 m) and<br />

Muro d'Alcoy (399 m), it has a rugged relief and<br />

major contour differences, above all to the NE<br />

(Montcabrer, 1390 m).<br />

The Sierra <strong>de</strong> Mario<strong>la</strong> mountain range, whose<br />

area of over 16,000 hectares was <strong>de</strong>c<strong>la</strong>red a<br />

nature reserve on 8th January 2002, spreads over<br />

the Vall d'Albaida, l'Alcoià and El Comtat counties,<br />

and is one of the most well-established reserves<br />

in Valencian popu<strong>la</strong>r culture.<br />

Some prominent features of the area are the<br />

many springs, country houses and a criss-crossing<br />

paths all over it, which vouch for all the hard<br />

work done taking advantage of the natural<br />

resources by its former settlers - ice-<strong>de</strong>alers,<br />

shepherds, woodcutters and others - who ma<strong>de</strong><br />

their living from this <strong>la</strong>nd.<br />

These are all reasons why the Sierra <strong>de</strong> Mario<strong>la</strong>, a<br />

real natural paradise in which there is a wealth of<br />

floral species unequalled in the whole Valencian<br />

Region, has become something that the local people<br />

fully i<strong>de</strong>ntify themselves with and a major <strong>la</strong>ndmark<br />

whose attractions continue to appeal to<br />

generations of hikers and day-trippers.


Human heritage<br />

Countless archaeological findings bear witness<br />

to man’s presence in the range since times<br />

immemorial, mainly to the SE and in the proximity<br />

of Vinalopó, with numerous paintings and<br />

remains of mainly Neolithic, Bronze age and<br />

Iberian settlements.<br />

An unquestionable symbol of these areas are the<br />

cavas (snow well) – cel<strong>la</strong>rs or vaults used from the<br />

16th to the 20th centuries for storing snow, transforming<br />

this into ice by compacting it and then<br />

selling it in summer; transporting this to nearby<br />

counties for use in preserving food, making icecreams<br />

or for therapeutic purposes.<br />

Other characteristic features of the human<br />

influence on this <strong>la</strong>ndscape are the masías - selfsufficient<br />

country farmsteads, farming and<br />

forestry units generally run by a single family,<br />

based on cultivating unirrigated <strong>la</strong>nd and stockbreeding.<br />

There are also <strong>de</strong>fensive buildings -<br />

castles, spread over the peaks of the range, and<br />

religious buildings - chapels.<br />

B. Albiach Galán<br />

Cava Arquejada and the<br />

Montcabrer peak


Geology<br />

In this huge limestone mass, which originated in<br />

the Cretaceous age, when the zone coinci<strong>de</strong>d<br />

with the edge of a sedimentary marine basin,<br />

there are major pa<strong>la</strong>eontological sites such as<br />

the one in Quero<strong>la</strong>, as well as outcrops of<br />

materials (c<strong>la</strong>ys) proper to the Triassic age,<br />

Keuper period.<br />

Karstic processes (dissolution of limestone rocks<br />

by water) are what have mostly <strong>de</strong>termined the<br />

present morphology of the range, with emblematic<br />

formations such as the Cint ravine or the<br />

Sarsa cave.<br />

Climate<br />

Mario<strong>la</strong> enjoys a typically Mediterranean climate,<br />

with a fairly <strong>la</strong>rge range of microclimates, and<br />

major differences <strong>de</strong>pending on the direction the<br />

<strong>la</strong>nd faces and its altitu<strong>de</strong>.<br />

Most of the rainfall is on the northern and western<br />

faces, while the extreme southeast has the<br />

most continental climate. Snow tends to be frequent<br />

in winter, above all in the higher parts and<br />

more exceptionally in spring.<br />

The higher zones of the range are subject to <strong>la</strong>rge<br />

amounts of mist and <strong>de</strong>w, rainfall that cannot be<br />

quantified but is not insignificant, especially for the<br />

vegetation.<br />

The Montcabrer from The Penyes Monteses<br />

The snow is in the habit of being frequent in<br />

the high levels of the Nature Reserve<br />

B. Allbiach Galán<br />

B. Allbiach Galán


P<strong>la</strong>nt life<br />

Mario<strong>la</strong>, with its over 1400 vascu<strong>la</strong>r p<strong>la</strong>nts, is<br />

doubtlessly a marvellous example of the biodiversity<br />

of species and settings. It is famous for the<br />

ones with aromatic and medicinal properties:<br />

Mario<strong>la</strong> sage, camomile, thyme, cat’s tail, hypericum,<br />

rock tea,... and for other ethno-botanical<br />

uses that have been ma<strong>de</strong> of them since ancient<br />

times; for preparing drinks, as a culinary condiment,<br />

as a remedy for all kinds of comp<strong>la</strong>ints,<br />

preparing perfumes, and others.<br />

In Mario<strong>la</strong> one can find anything from areas<br />

<strong>de</strong>gra<strong>de</strong>d by fires to good examples of potential<br />

climacic vegetation: the holm oak grove, and in<br />

shady areas, mixed Mediterranean woods,<br />

accompanied by kermes oaks, Mediterranean<br />

mezereon, junipers, evergreen buckthorn, etc..<br />

Most of the range is however covered with pine<br />

trees and thickets with briar, heather, rockrose…<br />

and there are also some good examples of edaphic<br />

vegetation in the Vinalopó area, and major p<strong>la</strong>nt<br />

communities associated with springs (such as that<br />

of Molí Mató).<br />

The “Teixera d’Agres” yew tree grove is a major<br />

feature, still containing some extraordinary specimens<br />

of this remarkable magic tree.<br />

Mario<strong>la</strong> sage<br />

(Salvia b<strong>la</strong>ncoana subsp. mariolensis)<br />

Núria Lara Bernàcer


B. Albiach Galán<br />

Gol<strong>de</strong>n eagle<br />

Fauna<br />

The great variety of environments also entails a<br />

major diversity of fauna. There are thus insects<br />

and many other invertebrates, amphibians (frogs<br />

and toads) reptiles, (Iberian wall lizard and <strong>la</strong>rge<br />

Psammodromus, ocel<strong>la</strong>ted lizard, Montpellier<br />

snake, Lataste’s viper...), birds (finch, partridge,<br />

serin, robin, common tit...; daytime birds of prey:<br />

gol<strong>de</strong>n eagle, peregrine falcon, goshawk...; nocturnal<br />

birds: imperial owl, spotted owl, barn<br />

owl...) and mammals (boar, rabbit, wild cat, stone<br />

marten, weasel, genet, badger, fox...), colonising<br />

woods, meadows, cliffs, caves, rivers, ponds<br />

farm<strong>la</strong>nd and even urban centres.<br />

Fox<br />

B. Albiach Galán


Sant Cristòfol<br />

Barranc <strong>de</strong>l Cint<br />

Barranquet <strong>de</strong> Ferri<br />

L’Horteta<br />

<strong>de</strong>l Pobre<br />

1<br />

2<br />

La Creu<br />

Ermita <strong>de</strong><br />

Sant Cristòfol<br />

Bara<strong>de</strong>ro<br />

<strong>de</strong> Moia<br />

Font <strong>de</strong> Moia<br />

El Preventori<br />

Barranquet <strong>de</strong> Soler<br />

Alcoi<br />

N-340<br />

Miquel Vives i Miralles<br />

Sant Cristòfol chapel<br />

.<br />

Vantage points in the sun<br />

Route: An outing to Sant Cristòfol Cross<br />

Route: Preventorio (Alcoy)- La Horteta <strong>de</strong>l Pobre -<br />

Sant Cristòfol chapel and cross- La Horteta.<br />

Duration: 1 hour<br />

Distance: 2 kilometres<br />

Ascent: 170 metres<br />

The route starts in El Preventorio recreation area.<br />

The building with the same name was built in the<br />

1950s as a hospital for children with tuberculosis.<br />

Years <strong>la</strong>ter it became a resi<strong>de</strong>nce for orphans and<br />

is an old people’s home today.<br />

1<br />

2<br />

The path starts by the <strong>la</strong>rge pond and heads into the<br />

ravine, towards the Horteta <strong>de</strong>l Pobre [point 1],<br />

with barbecue facilities, tables, spring and a woo<strong>de</strong>n<br />

bridge, all in a nicely prepared cool area. There<br />

are many paths leading to the top – at an altitu<strong>de</strong> of<br />

921 m, with the cross and Sant Cristòfol chapel<br />

[point 2], which is what gives its name to this public<br />

area – so the most convenient option should be<br />

taken to avoid the proliferation of new shortcuts<br />

and to reduce the erosion process on the slope;<br />

head up through the pines where there is a covering<br />

of perennial grass and the odd savin juniper; also<br />

rosemary bushes, b<strong>la</strong>ckthorn, salvia cistus, hipericum<br />

ericoi<strong>de</strong>s, evergreen buckthorn...<br />

With a little luck you will be accompanied on<br />

the way by the majestic flight of the griffon vulture,<br />

a species which has colonised the cliffs of


the Cint ravine and surroundings, thanks to a<br />

reintroduction scheme (Canyet Project). The<br />

present chapel, restored some years ago, is a<br />

20 th century building constructed on an early<br />

14 th century one: besi<strong>de</strong> it there is a cistern<br />

and the <strong>la</strong>rge iron cross, either metres high,<br />

that can be seen a long way off, and was built<br />

in the 1950s to rep<strong>la</strong>ce the original woo<strong>de</strong>n<br />

one, ma<strong>de</strong> in 1903, which was <strong>de</strong>stroyed<br />

during the Civil War.<br />

From this won<strong>de</strong>rful vantage point one can see<br />

the city of Alcoy and surrounding mountain<br />

ranges: La Serreta, Els P<strong>la</strong>ns, Carrascal <strong>de</strong> <strong>la</strong> Font<br />

Roja, the Almudaina range, Serrel<strong>la</strong>, Aitana and<br />

the Puig Campana. To the north you will be surprised<br />

by the Cint ravine and the foothills of<br />

Mario<strong>la</strong>, with Cocentaina and its castle and<br />

mount Benica<strong>de</strong>ll in the background - Beniarrés<br />

reservoir at its feet – and the distant Safor<br />

mountains; to the west, El Castel<strong>la</strong>r and the<br />

green fields of Bara<strong>de</strong>llo.<br />

We should stress that the whole area, chapel,<br />

paths and surroundings, have been prepared<br />

through the anonymous and uninterested<br />

en<strong>de</strong>avours of many retired resi<strong>de</strong>nts of Alcoy,<br />

lovers of the mountains and who have year<br />

after year ma<strong>de</strong> this p<strong>la</strong>ce their own and<br />

everyone else’s home.<br />

The way back to the starting point is by a less<br />

steeply-sloping path which you should leave<br />

before reaching Bara<strong>de</strong>llo <strong>de</strong> Moia to go back<br />

to the beginning in a fast and easy <strong>de</strong>scent.<br />

B. Albiach Galán<br />

Barranc <strong>de</strong>l Cint


Barranc <strong>de</strong> Garlí<br />

Agres<br />

Barranc <strong>de</strong>l Molí<br />

CV-700<br />

Font <strong>de</strong><br />

Bonell<br />

Font <strong>de</strong><br />

l’Assut<br />

Refugi<br />

1<br />

Refugi<br />

Fonteta <strong>de</strong>l<br />

Tio Rufino<br />

El Convent<br />

Ombria <strong>de</strong> Mario<strong>la</strong><br />

La Teixera<br />

Microreserva<br />

El Teix<br />

caseta <strong>de</strong> vigi<strong>la</strong>ncia<br />

Cava <strong>de</strong><br />

l’Habitació<br />

2<br />

Caveta <strong>de</strong>l Buitre<br />

El Recingle<br />

3 Refugi<br />

Montcabrer<br />

Cava Gran<br />

Miquel Vives i Miralles<br />

Font <strong>de</strong>l Molí Mató,<br />

microreserve<br />

.<br />

In the sha<strong>de</strong> of the snow well<br />

An outing through Mario<strong>la</strong>’s shady areas<br />

1<br />

Route: The Convent (Agres)- Montcabrer shelter<br />

and cava <strong>de</strong> La Habitació - Cava Gran icehouse-<br />

Montcabrer shelter - The Convent.<br />

Duration: 3 hours<br />

Distance: 7.5 kilometres<br />

Ascent: 455 metres<br />

Starting from the Convent recreation area, go up<br />

the left-hand slope from which you can see the<br />

Molí ravine and town of Agres. In a few metres<br />

you will come to the foot of the chapel [point 1],<br />

built on the ruins of an old originally Moslem cas-<br />

tle (12 th century). In the 15 th century, the Virgin<br />

Mary appeared to a muti<strong>la</strong>ted shepherd at the top<br />

of a hackberry tree in this same spot. To commemorate<br />

this fact a chapel was built, and <strong>la</strong>ter on<br />

the Franciscan convent. Above all in September<br />

this chapel is visited by a long procession of people<br />

from the surrounding area.<br />

The path, steep at first, heads into the ravine,<br />

where it is crossed by many others; in or<strong>de</strong>r<br />

to avoid the growing erosion, we recommend<br />

always following the option with the least<br />

slope. This path was used by the ice-makers<br />

who transported the ice on their beasts of


B. Albiach Galán<br />

El Teix<br />

2<br />

bur<strong>de</strong>n to the vil<strong>la</strong>ges in these counties. Then go<br />

on up through the Mediterranean thickets of<br />

Aleppo pines while you enjoy the panorama<br />

behind you.<br />

Cross a forest path which leads to La Teixera<br />

d’Agres, continue along the track until you come<br />

up to El Teix ice-house (18 th century) which may<br />

go unnoticed through being almost covered by<br />

ivy. A little further on you will reach Montcabrer<br />

shelter, built in 1975 on the remains of the former<br />

Habitació house [point 2], where the ice-<strong>de</strong>alers<br />

who worked in the zone spent the night during<br />

the snow collecting period. In a few metres you<br />

will come to the cava known as La Habitació<br />

(18th century) which still keeps its masonry dome<br />

3<br />

almost intact. Right at the top of El Teix is the<br />

lookout hut. This point has an outstanding view:<br />

Montcabrer, Recingle, <strong>la</strong> Valleta d’Agres, the<br />

counties of the Vall d’Albaida and La Costera,<br />

Benica<strong>de</strong>ll, Beniarrés reservoir and La Safor in the<br />

background; Albureca, Almudaina, the Serrel<strong>la</strong><br />

and Aitana.<br />

Go on along the path by the forest road southeast<br />

towards Cava Gran ice-house (also known as<br />

Cava Arquejada), an obvious symbol of this range.<br />

Built from the 17 th to 18 th centuries, it was in use<br />

until the early 20 th century, and again used at<br />

times during the Civil war. It is 11 m <strong>de</strong>ep with a<br />

15 m internal diameter, three arches crossing in


N-340<br />

Agres<br />

Pob<strong>la</strong>do Ibérico<br />

<strong>de</strong> <strong>la</strong> Mo<strong>la</strong><br />

Penya <strong>de</strong>l Frare<br />

Bocairent<br />

CV-81<br />

Morro <strong>de</strong>l Porc<br />

962<br />

Ermita <strong>de</strong><br />

Sant Jaume<br />

Rio Vinalopó<br />

Cova <strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>la</strong> Sarsa<br />

Ermita <strong>de</strong><br />

Sta. Bárbaral<br />

Font <strong>de</strong>l P<strong>la</strong><br />

Font <strong>de</strong>l<br />

Tarragó<br />

CV-794<br />

Alfafara<br />

Alt <strong>de</strong> <strong>la</strong> Cova<br />

el Portín<br />

1087<br />

A. R. Font <strong>de</strong><br />

Mario<strong>la</strong><br />

A. R. Font <strong>de</strong>l<br />

Moli Mató<br />

Cava <strong>de</strong> D.<br />

Miguel<br />

Castell <strong>de</strong><br />

Mario<strong>la</strong><br />

Font <strong>de</strong><br />

Mario<strong>la</strong><br />

Cava Gran<br />

Caveta <strong>de</strong>l<br />

Buitgre<br />

Alt <strong>de</strong> <strong>la</strong> Codol<strong>la</strong><br />

1169<br />

el Teix<br />

1261<br />

Bnc. <strong>de</strong>l Bou<br />

Font <strong>de</strong> <strong>la</strong><br />

Boronada<br />

Balcó <strong>de</strong><br />

Llopis<br />

Montcabrer<br />

1390<br />

Penyes Monteses<br />

1354<br />

A. R. Font les<br />

Huit Piletes<br />

Pob<strong>la</strong>do Ibérico<br />

<strong>de</strong> l’Alberri<br />

Ermita <strong>de</strong><br />

Sta Bárbara<br />

Refugi les Foietes<br />

Muro<br />

Ermita <strong>de</strong><br />

Sant Cristòfol<br />

Pic Negre<br />

912<br />

Cocentaina<br />

Castell <strong>de</strong>l Vinalopó<br />

Pob<strong>la</strong>t <strong>de</strong>l Bronze<br />

<strong>de</strong> <strong>la</strong> Mo<strong>la</strong> Alta<br />

Banyeres<br />

<strong>de</strong> Mario<strong>la</strong><br />

Font <strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>la</strong> Burra<br />

Font <strong>de</strong> <strong>la</strong><br />

Coveta<br />

Montes<br />

<strong>de</strong> Ro<strong>de</strong>no<br />

Font Freda<br />

l’Eixarc<br />

1094<br />

Barxell<br />

Urb.<br />

Sargento<br />

Urb.<br />

Bara<strong>de</strong>llo<br />

Ge<strong>la</strong>t<br />

Barranc <strong>de</strong>l Cint<br />

Cova <strong>de</strong>l Conill<br />

Ermita i creu <strong>de</strong><br />

Sant Cristòfol<br />

Alcoi<br />

CV-795<br />

Urb.<br />

Montesol<br />

Ermita i castell<br />

<strong>de</strong> Barxell<br />

N-340<br />

Ermita<br />

<strong>de</strong> Polop<br />

E: 1/100.000<br />

0 2.000<br />

4.000<br />

8.000 m<br />

carretera<br />

senda<br />

límite administrativo<br />

construcciones<br />

PORN (P<strong>la</strong>nning scheme of Natural Resources)<br />

Route: An outing to Sant Cristòfol Cross<br />

An outing through Mario<strong>la</strong>’s shady areas<br />

An outing along the head of the River Vinalopó<br />

Route: An outing through Comtat county


the centre, in line with the vertices of the outer<br />

hexagon. This structure held up the beam and<br />

thatched-<strong>la</strong>tticework vault, finished off with Arab<br />

tiles. Insi<strong>de</strong> it you will see a sturdy yew tree.<br />

Nearby there is a spring by the access tunnel.<br />

This high point is the priority habitat of many<br />

birds such as the crow, the wheatear, or the<br />

Alpine accentor, apart from birds of prey such as<br />

the kestrel or gol<strong>de</strong>n eagle<br />

Go back along your track to the shelter and take<br />

the forest track that drops down to the left, to the<br />

north-east, where you will find juniper, kermes<br />

oak, briar, thyme, Mario<strong>la</strong> sage or hedgehog<br />

broom. As you go back down you may find traces<br />

of stone martens, foxes or boars. Go by Tío<br />

Rufino spring to end up crossing an asphalted<br />

track which leads on the left to the Fuente <strong>de</strong>l<br />

Molí Mató recreation area. To return to the starting<br />

point go to the right and continue along the<br />

Convent path, f<strong>la</strong>nked by huge cypresses which<br />

welcome you back, walking along in front of the<br />

cavities known as the Bou Caves.<br />

Cava Gran (Agres)<br />

Santuari <strong>de</strong> <strong>la</strong> mare <strong>de</strong> Déu<br />

<strong>de</strong>l Castell/el Convent (Agres)<br />

B. Albiach Galán<br />

B. Albiach Galán


Font <strong>de</strong> <strong>la</strong> Coveta<br />

3<br />

Mas <strong>de</strong> Galbis<br />

B<strong>la</strong>nes (Molí <strong>de</strong><br />

Dalt i <strong>de</strong> Baix) 2<br />

La Borrera<br />

(Molí Campana)<br />

1<br />

Montes <strong>de</strong> Ro<strong>de</strong>no<br />

Mas <strong>de</strong> les Monges<br />

Molí Nou<br />

Font <strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>la</strong> Burra<br />

Casetes <strong>de</strong> l’Ansari<br />

Rio Vinalopó<br />

CV-795<br />

El Buixcarró<br />

Núria Lara Barnàcer<br />

Information centre “Ull <strong>de</strong> Canals”<br />

.<br />

The Water way. An outing along the head<br />

of the River Vinalopó<br />

Route: Mas d’Ull <strong>de</strong> Canals farmstead (Banyeres <strong>de</strong><br />

Mario<strong>la</strong>)- La Borrera (Molí Campana)- B<strong>la</strong>nes factory<br />

(Molino <strong>de</strong> Baix y <strong>de</strong> Dalt)- Fuente <strong>de</strong> <strong>la</strong><br />

Coveta spring - Mas d’Ull <strong>de</strong> Canals farmstead<br />

Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes<br />

Distance: 6.5 kilometres<br />

Ascent: 20 metres<br />

This route goes along the upstream stretch of the<br />

river Vinalopó, with water as its salient feature,<br />

through countrysi<strong>de</strong> characterised by riverbank<br />

ecosystems, hazelnut trees and market gar<strong>de</strong>ns, apart<br />

from items connected with making use of water:<br />

ponds, canals, dams and mills used at old factories.<br />

1<br />

The route starts at the farmstead known as Mas<br />

d’Ull <strong>de</strong> Canals, taking the forest path appearing<br />

to your left that will then be followed almost to<br />

the end of the route. On the left you will see terraces<br />

of olives and almonds, and quite a few little<br />

houses scattered around the area known as El<br />

Ansarí. To the right, the prevalent vegetation is<br />

bushes with pine trees. Ahead of you Vinalopó<br />

castle comes increasingly into view and while you<br />

walk you will be able to see the effects of the <strong>de</strong>vastating<br />

fire in 1994 on the nearby slopes.<br />

Going on between the terraces, after about 2.5<br />

kilometres from the start, you will reach the<br />

Campana mill [point 1], with its characteristic


Miquel Vives i Miralles<br />

B<strong>la</strong>nes factory (Molino <strong>de</strong> Baix y <strong>de</strong> Dalt)<br />

chimney. In the beginning, in 1712, the building<br />

was <strong>de</strong>signed as a flour mill; <strong>la</strong>ter on, in 1810, it<br />

was converted into a paper mill (a full-scale factory<br />

complex, famous for its smoking paper)<br />

and finally -between 1855 and 1968- it was<br />

transformed for production in the textile sector.<br />

The track goes on in parallel to the river, through<br />

the pretty riverbank wood ma<strong>de</strong> up of pop<strong>la</strong>rs,<br />

willows, reeds and other species, accompanied by<br />

the flight of gol<strong>de</strong>n orioles, nightingales, robins<br />

and other birds which brighten up the way with<br />

their lively colours and pleasant song.<br />

2<br />

Head on upstream until you come to the series<br />

of factories in B<strong>la</strong>nes [point 2]: originally set up<br />

as flour mills (<strong>la</strong>ter 18th century) and turned<br />

B<strong>la</strong>nes chimney<br />

Núria Lara Bernàcer


Núria Lara Barnàcer<br />

The Vinalopó River<br />

3<br />

into the paper sector from the early 19 th century<br />

until 1942.<br />

Cross the river and go on up the path that leads<br />

through the interior of the riverbank forest, the<br />

habitat of <strong>la</strong>rge numbers of creatures such as the<br />

common frog, the viperine snake, or some wellconcealed<br />

trout. As you walk along by holm oaks,<br />

willows and some climbing p<strong>la</strong>nts, it will not take<br />

long to get to La Coveta spring [point 3]: a cavity<br />

around two metres high in a little <strong>de</strong>ll to the right<br />

of the path. This has traditionally been consi<strong>de</strong>red<br />

as the birth of the Vinalopó, though in actual fact<br />

the water comes from Els Brulls, or even from an<br />

area further up, close to the Mas <strong>de</strong> Bodí.<br />

What is in<strong>de</strong>ed true is that the water permanently<br />

comes to the surface in this spring, thus<br />

creating a real river of life. The water goes on its<br />

way through Sax, Elda, close to the Sierra <strong>de</strong><br />

Crevillent range, crossing Elche and disappearing<br />

before reaching the sea. This covers a total of 92<br />

km with little flow, as the river has since ancient<br />

times been used as the driving force of textile<br />

and paper factories, and also for irrigating the<br />

crops on its banks.<br />

To go back, head directly along the forest track<br />

towards the factories and from there to the surroundings<br />

of the Mas d’Ull in Canals.


FFCC Alcoi<br />

Ermita <strong>de</strong> Sant Cristòfol<br />

N-340<br />

- Xátiva - Valencia<br />

Cova <strong>de</strong>l<br />

Balconet<br />

Cocentaina<br />

Mas <strong>de</strong><br />

l’Alberri<br />

el Fabricant<br />

El Castell<br />

Penyeta<br />

B<strong>la</strong>nca<br />

TUNEL<br />

Pa<strong>la</strong>u<br />

Comtal<br />

P<strong>la</strong> <strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>la</strong> Font<br />

apea<strong>de</strong>ro<br />

Ermita <strong>de</strong><br />

Sta. Bàrbara<br />

Miquel Vives i Miralles<br />

recreation area<br />

Ermita <strong>de</strong> Sant Cristòfol (Cocentaina)<br />

3<br />

A date with history<br />

Route: An outing through Comtat county<br />

Route: Pa<strong>la</strong>u Comtal (Cocentaina)- El Raval-<br />

Santa Bàrbara Chapel – Cocentaina Castle- Sant<br />

Cristòfol Chapel- P<strong>la</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>la</strong> Font- La Vi<strong>la</strong>- Pa<strong>la</strong>u<br />

Comtal.<br />

Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes<br />

Distance: 4.5 kilometres<br />

Ascent: 265 metres<br />

The route starts at the Pa<strong>la</strong>u Comtal, a Gothicrenaissance<br />

pa<strong>la</strong>ce of great artistic and architectural<br />

quality, built over a former 12 th century<br />

Moslem building at the or<strong>de</strong>rs of Roger <strong>de</strong> Lauria,<br />

the first feudal lord of the town.<br />

1<br />

The walks sets off from the P<strong>la</strong>ça <strong>de</strong>l Mercat,<br />

along the alleys in the former Moslem district<br />

of the Raval, with their peculiar winding <strong>la</strong>yout<br />

among low, narrow houses. Go on along Calle<br />

<strong>de</strong>l Forn and El Salvador church, until you come<br />

to the cross, from which you will follow a concrete<br />

path as far as Santa Bàrbara Chapel recreation<br />

area [point 1]: this is a “conquista” type<br />

building dating back to the second half of the<br />

13 th century. Go on, crossing the road, to take a<br />

path by an electricity pylon which zigzags along<br />

the si<strong>de</strong> of the mountain to head up the slope<br />

without difficulty, by crops of olives and almonds<br />

repeated all along the route, on <strong>la</strong>nd wrenched


Cocentaina castle<br />

Núria Lara Bernàcer<br />

tants of the surrounding farmsteads. In a gothic<br />

military style, with ogival shapes in arches, doors<br />

windows and interior <strong>de</strong>coration, it has a square<br />

floor p<strong>la</strong>n 13x12 m, on a masonry embankment<br />

and 2 storeys, with an interior patio and cistern.<br />

Now restored, you can visit this by requesting the<br />

keys from Cocentaina Council. From the vantage<br />

point you can see from left to right, La Quebrantà<br />

ravine, Albaida pass, Benica<strong>de</strong>ll mountain, La Safor<br />

mountains, Beniarrés reservoir, the Sierra <strong>de</strong><br />

Almudaina, Aitana, La Serreta, el Carrascal <strong>de</strong> <strong>la</strong><br />

Font Roja, Els P<strong>la</strong>ns and finally the Pico Negre, a<br />

stone spur behind which there are the Monteses<br />

and Montcabrer peaks.<br />

2<br />

from the mountain in a practice inherited from<br />

the Arabs. Then you will head into a <strong>de</strong>nse pine<br />

forest with briar, rosemary, buckthorn and as you<br />

get higher up, camomile, rabo <strong>de</strong> gato (Si<strong>de</strong>ritis<br />

angustifolia), field eryngo and the Lygos sphaerocarpa<br />

shrub. The presence of excrement here<br />

indicates the presence of fauna: foxes, field mice,<br />

rabbits, etc; it is easy to observe the flight of birds<br />

such as the Sardinian warbler, common kestrel<br />

or the coal tit.<br />

The path links up with a track that leads to a vantage<br />

point at the feet of the castle (point 2): a<br />

Christian tower dating back to the 13 th -14 th centuries,<br />

built on the remains of an old 10 th century<br />

Moslem castle, which had some military control<br />

over the important route through the surrounding<br />

<strong>la</strong>nd, as well as offering shelter for the inhabi-<br />

3<br />

Go down to the west along the concreted path<br />

between little houses with hawthorn, kermes<br />

oak, buckthorn and cat’s c<strong>la</strong>w, mixed in with<br />

ornamental species and cultivated terraces;<br />

ignore any forks until you come to a path on<br />

the left in a pine spinney which forms part of<br />

Sant Cristòfol recreation area Chapel [point 3],<br />

erected in the 15 th<br />

century in a woody zone<br />

i<strong>de</strong>al for a rest.<br />

Leave by the car park towards the road, ignoring<br />

the fork to the left leading to Les Huit<br />

Piletes and continue along the road, around 150<br />

m, until you come to an asphalted track on the<br />

right. In a few metres this changes into a path<br />

which drops around the hill to the first houses<br />

in the vil<strong>la</strong>ge and the P<strong>la</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>la</strong> Font, from which<br />

you should go on through the streets of the Vi<strong>la</strong><br />

to the starting point.


Recreation areas<br />

· El Preventorio (Alcoy): around the former children’s<br />

hospital. There are open barbecue facilities, running<br />

water, rustic tables, bar with toilets and public swimming<br />

pools in summer.<br />

· Refugio Les Foietes (Cocentaina): a small recreation<br />

area <strong>de</strong>pending on the Centre Excursionista<br />

Contestà.<br />

· Ermita <strong>de</strong> Santa Bàrbara (Cocentaina): an area<br />

with a thick pine wood around the chapel. The facilities<br />

consist of tables, running water and a children’s<br />

recreation area. Accessible for people with reduced<br />

mobility.<br />

· Ermita <strong>de</strong> Sant Cristòfol (Cocentaina): a shady area<br />

in the chapel grounds, with a bar-restaurant, running<br />

water, barbecue facilities, tables, toilets and a children’s<br />

recreation area. Accessible for people with<br />

reduced mobility.<br />

· La Quero<strong>la</strong> (Muro d’Alcoi).<br />

· Font <strong>de</strong> Mario<strong>la</strong> Recreation area (Bocairent): right<br />

in the heart of the range. It has tables, barbecue<br />

facilities, toilets, running water and controlled camping<br />

site (information at 012).<br />

· Campamento <strong>de</strong> Mario<strong>la</strong> (Bocairent): private. Has<br />

a bar-restaurant, camping site and woo<strong>de</strong>n huts.<br />

· Santuario <strong>de</strong> <strong>la</strong> Mare <strong>de</strong> Déu d’Agres (Agres): in<br />

the higher part of the town. Has a restaurant, running<br />

water and rustic tables. Accessible for people<br />

with reduced mobility.<br />

· Fuente <strong>de</strong>l Molí Mató (Agres): inclu<strong>de</strong>s the<br />

Zamorano shelter (with toilets and a camping site,<br />

information at 012) and the surroundings of the natural<br />

spring, with tables and barbecue facilities.<br />

· Font <strong>de</strong>l Tarragó (Alfafara): a zone with thick pines,<br />

with running water, tables, barbecue facilities and a<br />

children’s zone.<br />

B. Albaich Galán<br />

Cuisines<br />

Molí Mató Recreation Area<br />

The mountain vil<strong>la</strong>ges all have a rich and varied<br />

gastronomy, specialities being: ol<strong>la</strong> stew, borreta<br />

filled beans, pericana dried pepper dish and cold<br />

meats dressed with herbs.<br />

Sweets are also highly appreciated: pastries,<br />

coated nuts, sweet potato or almond cakes.<br />

The most highly appreciated drink is herbero:<br />

anise liquor macerated with herbs and also infusions:<br />

timonet, sage, peppermint..., all imbued<br />

with this <strong>la</strong>nd’s aroma.


B. Albiach Galán<br />

B. Albiach Galán<br />

Agres<br />

Font <strong>de</strong> Mario<strong>la</strong><br />

Accesses<br />

Sierra <strong>de</strong> Mario<strong>la</strong> nature reserve covers 7 municipalities:<br />

Agres, Alfafara, Alcoy, Banyeres <strong>de</strong><br />

Mario<strong>la</strong>, Bocairent, Cocentaina and Muro d’Alcoy.<br />

The town and vil<strong>la</strong>ge centres and the roads<br />

between them are approximately the boundaries<br />

of the range.<br />

By road the main access both from Alicante or<br />

from Valencia is the N-340 road axis, which<br />

communicates Muro d’Alcoy, Cocentaina and<br />

Alcoy. To get to Agres and Alfafara Road CV-<br />

700, is the best way. It is also possible to get<br />

here from the CV-81, going through Bocairent<br />

and Banyeres. To come to the Information<br />

Centre of the Nature Reserve, in Mas d’Ull <strong>de</strong><br />

Canals, take road CV-795 which joins Alcoy and<br />

Banyeres (km. 17.5). The only communication route<br />

crossing the range from north to south is the CV-<br />

794, which links the towns of Bocairent and Alcoy.<br />

This road is one of the main accesses to p<strong>la</strong>ces of<br />

special interest such as the Font <strong>de</strong> Mario<strong>la</strong> recreation<br />

area, located in the heart of the range. The<br />

other recreation areas are located in the edges,<br />

close to the town and vil<strong>la</strong>ge centres.<br />

One very interesting and recommendable alternative<br />

is the traditional Valencia-Xàtiva-Alcoy train<br />

line, with stops in Agres, Cocentaina and Alcoy,<br />

from which you can enjoy the lovely <strong>la</strong>ndscapes and<br />

settings that this crosses.


This is a protected space of superb <strong>la</strong>ndscape<br />

beauty and great natural and cultural<br />

value. In or<strong>de</strong>r to keep it for future<br />

generations:<br />

Always bear in mind the danger of fire. Make fires<br />

only in the p<strong>la</strong>ces specially <strong>de</strong>signed for this and do<br />

not drop any cigarette ends.<br />

Always pick up any rubbish and waste that you create,<br />

to take this back to where it came from. Leave<br />

the p<strong>la</strong>ce where you have been as clean as possible.<br />

Keep on your toes and pay attention to all your<br />

senses to enjoy your visit to the utmost.<br />

Free camping is not allowed: there are controlled<br />

areas for this.<br />

Follow the paths and tracks as this will help to<br />

reduce erosion. Whenever you can try to move on<br />

foot, by bicycle or on horse, so as to reduce the<br />

contamination and enjoy the <strong>la</strong>ndscape more.<br />

Respect any animals and p<strong>la</strong>nts that you find on<br />

your way.<br />

If you take your dog with you keep it on a leash at<br />

all times to avoid bothering other visitors.<br />

Respect private property.<br />

It is advisable to take these routes in small groups<br />

(from 15 to 20 persons).<br />

The best and most enduring souvenir of your trip<br />

is doubtlessly a photo. Make responsible use of all<br />

the resources.<br />

Lastly, in the event of any emergency, call 112.<br />

Rules

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