Aín among springs, castles and trails in the Sierra de Espadán Natural Park

Aín lies in the heart of the Sierra de Espadán Natural Park. Between springs, historic buildings and trails through valleys and mountains, the town reveals itself through many distinctive sites.

Nature

The Font de l’Avellaner is located in a small gorge behind the Calvario. Cork oaks surround this peaceful place for sitting and enjoying the lush, cool nature.

At the Font de la Caritat, the spring cave is closed to the public. However, the channeling of its watercourse is visible along the Barranc de la Caritat and through centuries-old irrigation channels. Ferns, poplars and cork oaks grow around the spring at the Barranc del Roig in a shady landscape.

The Font Juncaret can be reached after a walk through the gorge. It lies in a damp, cool passage surrounded by ferns and cork oaks, away from the settlement. The Font Ereta is a traditional spring in the town: in the past, it supplied water to farmers in nearby field huts; today, it is used by animals such as wild boar.

The Font Noguerals was channeled to irrigate fields. A nearby basin collected its water and distributed it to irrigated plots. La Basseta is connected to a small irrigation basin that is still in use; the spring water emerges at two locations only a few metres apart.

The Font de San Ambrós lies beside the river on the edge of the town, between centuries-old poplars and beneath a vault containing a reredos of the saint. Its area has fire pits for cooking paella, tables and a small children’s playground. The annual tradition of tasting the residents’ various wines when the wine barrels are opened continues there.

La Basseta has benches for resting and a restored limestone quarry that visitors can explore.

Culture and history

Aín Castle is of Arab origin and was conquered by Christian troops in 1238. Its complex includes several walled defensive areas, cisterns, an auxiliary tower, a cylindrical Torre del Homenaje, an inner drawbridge and a moat.

Benalí Castle is classified as a Site of Cultural Interest. The Parish Church of San Miguel dates from the 18th century.

Aín’s Traditional Historic Centre is located on a hill and preserves traditional houses with carriage entrances and Cambra rooms on the upper floors.

Further destinations for planning your trip: Cabanes, Nules, Forcall, Viver, Moncófar, Castell De Cabres, Olocau Del Rey, La Pobla De Benifassà.

Getting around

Route 8: Aín–Pico Espadán passes through Aín and is classified as a route themed around sport and nature. In Aín, hiking and cycling tours along trails through valleys and mountains can pass dry-stone structures and historic trenches.

For the overarching travel overview: Castellon.