La Serra D'en Galceran – Trails, Culture and Nature
File:Font de Sant Miquel (La Serra d'En Galcerán).JPG
Photo: Juan Emilio Prades Bel via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
La Serra D'en Galceran combines impressive trails with unusual cultural landmarks and natural features. An old ice house stands in the centre of Sierra-Engarcerán and is unique in the Valencian Community. The local flora includes Quercus Valentina, a native, majestic oak that the botanist Cavanilles catalogued in the 18th century.
Landscape and Trails
The SL-CV 94 is a circular trail with gentle inclines and is considered suitable for walks with the whole family. The route passes the remains of an Iberian settlement. The PR-CV 350 circular trail has a different character: it runs through old holm-oak forests, past clusters of Masías with distinctive buildings, through dry-farmed areas with almond and olive trees, and along dry-stone walls. The PR-CV 350 is also connected with the Serra d'en Galceran protected areas, which are designated as ZEC (Zona de Especial Conservación) and LIC (Lugar de Importancia Comunitaria). The PR-CV 349 leads to Tosal de Zaragoza, one of the highest-elevation places in the Sierra Engarcerán.
This destination also includes the town pages for Els Ibarsos and Els Rosildos.
Culture and History
The Fort or Castell-Palau Casalduch is considered a remarkable example of Valencian civil Gothic architecture and retains its original façade. The upper floor houses a museum collection dedicated to Bishop Felipe Bertran. The Iglesia de San Bartolomé is a typical Baroque church of the region. Construction of the present-day church began in 1580 and was not completed until 1767.
The Obispo Beltrán collection displays Palaeolithic stone tools found at the Abric d'En Melia, dating from approximately 10,000 BC. Also on display is a 10th-century Alquerque game discovered at Tossal de la Vila.
Museums and Seasonal Cuisine
The Museo Francisco Agut opened in 2011 and is located on Carrer Sant Antoni in the centre of Sierra Engarcerán. It houses a collection of coats of arms and crosses carved in stone that can be visited all year round. Typical seasonal products from Sierra-Engarcerán include game, robellones and snails.
Pilgrimage and Panoramic Views
The Ermita de San Miguel is visited twice a year as part of a pilgrimage: on the first Sunday in May for the Fira de la Santa Creu, and on the Sunday closest to 29 September for the festival of San Miguel. The Ermita de San Miguel offers extensive views over the comarca. It can be reached via a signposted turn-off and a short, approximately 200-metre paved road. The summer programme “Caminant amb la Diputació” also passed through Serra d'en Galceran.
Rock and Nature
The Barranco de la Guitarra in Sierra Engarcerán is an area with climbing opportunities. It features a smooth limestone overhang with incised engravings. The engravings described there include 15 animal figures and numerous symbols measuring between 5 and 40 cm. Sierra-Engarcerán also has via ferratas for active tourism.
La Cova Santa, also known as Cueva de la Masía de Gaspar, is a natural cave on the grounds of the Masía de Gaspar. It is home to the invertebrate arthropod Gollumjapys smeagol. The cave is closed for its protection; visitors must contact the local council in advance.
To the higher-level travel overview: Castellon.
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