Palanques: Rock Paintings, the Bergantes River and Traditions

Palanques combines impressive evidence of earlier cultures with a riverside landscape and festivals in Palanques. The Cingle de Palanques consists of two rock overhangs with naturalistic rock paintings and hunting scenes. The rock paintings of the Cingle de Palanques date from the Neolithic period and are more than 5,000 years old. Access to the rock overhangs begins in the town centre and is considered an easy walk.

Culture and History

The “Parish Church of the Assumption” is an 18th-century Baroque church. It contains the remains of the small Gothic portal of the former parish church from the 14th century. Roca Tallà is an archaeological site in the western part of the municipality of Palanques and a historical testament to the ancient Roman route between Aragón and Valencia in both directions. A rectangular watchtower stood on the upper Cingle and was used to monitor the area and the routes.

Nature

Part of the valley of the Bergantes River can be seen from the Mirador del Riu Bergantes. The banks of the Bergantes in Palanques are home to a great diversity of species. The Bergantes is home to the most significant otter population in the Valencian territory. Font Vella is an outdoor recreational area with two springs, washing places and a picnic area. The stone spring with a round arch is dated to 1627 and provides fresh water throughout the year.

Festivals

Sant Antoni is celebrated in Palanques in January. The celebration of Sant Antoni includes building and burning a Barraca at night, accompanied by the Diablera. During the celebration of Sant Antoni, “les coquetes”, the traditional festive pastries of the celebration, are prepared. Palanques’s patron saint festivities in August honour Sant Cosme and Sant Damià. The spring pilgrimages of Palanques include a pilgrimage to the hermitage of Sant Bernabé on the Saturday after 11 June. The Bureo and the Ball del Rotlle in October bring residents and visitors together for a traditional dance from Palanques, accompanied by the music of participating rondallas.

Ruta 99 can be experienced with the family, by motorbike, by bicycle or on foot. It includes a virtual record in which visitors can stamp their visit in each participating municipality. Palanques is the reference municipality for the PR-CV 245 Roca Tallà hiking trail.

The main themes are clearly distinct: the Cingle, Roca Tallà and the PR-CV 245 combine rock art, history and trails; the Bergantes and Font Vella add a landscape dimension; and the festivals structure the cultural year. This makes it possible to consider sightseeing, nature observation and traditional events according to their different themes, without combining them into a single type of visit. The celebrations tied to specific dates and the spring described as available year-round therefore remain distinct topics.

Other places: Olocau Del Rey, Sot De Ferrer, Oropesa Del Mar, Assuévar, Cabanes, Fredes, La Pobla Tornesa, Alcalà De Xivert

For the higher-level travel overview: Castellon.