Discover Caudiel: Baroque, History and Trails

Caudiel combines Baroque ecclesiastical architecture with traces of historic fortifications, archaeological sites and routes through hilly and mountainous terrain. Those wishing to plan a themed stay can consider culture, nature and routes of varying difficulty side by side.

Culture and History

The Iglesia San Juan Bautista has a spacious cruciform nave with interconnected side chapels and a hemispherical dome; the structure is designed in the Baroque style. The Camarín de la Virgen del Niño Perdido is a work of Valencian Baroque dating from 1701 to 1704. Its altarpiece is entirely decorated with gold. The Iglesia San Juan Bautista was part of an Augustinian monastery founded in the 17th century until the beginning of the 19th century.

In 1496, the Ermita del Socós served as the site for the founding of an Augustinian monastery by Fray Juan Exarch and his fellow friar Fray Antonio de Padilla. Only a few remains of the city wall of the Muralla urbana de Caudiel survive; they date from the period before the Reconquista. The surviving wall remains at the Tramo de las Monjas preserve loopholes later added for rifle fire.

The Torre de Aníbal, also known as Torre del Molino, was used as a defensive tower during Muslim rule and the early phase of the Christian Reconquista, and was connected to the boundary of Jérica Castle. The exterior of the Torre de Aníbal is freely accessible. Caudiel was already inhabited in the Bronze Age; its archaeological sites include the Cueva de la Alcabaira, the Cueva de la Rocha, the Cueva del Generoso and the Abrigo y Sima de Fuente la Higuera.

Religion and Festive Culture

The Convento de las Carmelitas Descalzas has shaped Caudiel's townscape since 1685. The convent choir is richly decorated with Valencian Manises tiles from the 17th century. Due to the monastic life of its residents, the Convento de las Carmelitas Descalzas can only rarely be visited.

The Fiestas Patronales en Honor a la Virgen del Niño Perdido include, among other events, a festive Mass, a procession, a floral offering and the singing of the Gozos. The Feria de la Cereza takes place in Caudiel in June and offers cherries, recipes, handicrafts, products and folk performances. In 2017, the Feria de la Cereza received the designation Fiesta de Interés Turístico Provincial.

Other town pages in this selection: Almazora, Casablanca, Moncófar, Arañuel, La Serra D'en Galceran, Benasal, Ayódar and Les Alqueries.

Landscape and Nature

The municipality of Caudiel includes hilly and mountainous terrain with elevations such as Pico de las Palomas at 1,150 metres. Its ecological diversity includes, among other species, Pinus rodeno, holm oaks and oaks.

In the wider surroundings of Caudiel lies Collado de Pino Rey within the LIC ES5222004 Special Area of Conservation (Curs Alt del riu Millars) and the ZEPA ES0000468 Special Protection Area (Serra d'Espadà). Fuente de la Heredad is 400 metres from Caudiel and can be reached via the Camino Real de Aragón.

Routes and Trails

The Vía Verde de Ojos Negros passes through Caudiel and is 167.5 kilometres long. It can be used on foot, by bicycle or in a wheelchair, with the exception of individual ramps outside the original route alignment. The distances and means of transport mentioned provide a clear basis for comparison when planning personally.

The Barranco de Juésar route begins at the El Barrio washhouse and follows the stream towards Paraje de la Grieta. The Barranco del Estajo route leads from the Camino de El Cerrado to the Senda del Estajo and returns to Caudiel via Fuente de la Alcabaira. The Viaductos de la Fuensanta route passes through a tunnel and by the former mining station before reaching the viaducts and the Fuensanta spring.

Caudiel is part of the Conquista de Valencia route of the Camino del Cid, intended for hiking or mountain biking with BTT-MTB. The Contrabandistas Trail is a 16-kilometre mountain run with 600 metres of ascent. In the surroundings of Caudiel, the Collado de Pino Rey section of the Camino del Cid climbs 560 metres over 6.5 kilometres.

For the overall travel overview: Castellon.